Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Lois McClure Open Hours
2023-08-11 14:30 - 15:30, 2023-08-11 10:30 - 12:00, 2023-08-10 14:30 - 15:30, 2023-08-09 14:30 - 15:30, 2023-08-09 10:30 - 12:00, 2023-08-08 14:30 - 15:30, 2023-08-07 14:30 - 15:30, 2023-08-05 10:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York) and 1 more date | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
Families on canal boats similar to the Lois McClure would spend the majority of their year on the water, and now you can get a sense of what canal boat life would be like too! Climb on board this replica of a 1862-class sailing canal boat to learn about the lives and culture of canal boaters, through artifacts collected from two real 19th century canal boat wrecks.

Accessibility: The path down to the waterfront is gravelly and steep, and there is a steep ramp leading up to the Lois McClure. If you are interested in only browsing the artifacts from the two shipwrecks, contact museumeducator@lcmm.org to set up time for a Lois McClure Collections showing in the wheelchair-accessible Visitor Center.

Learn to Row!
2023-08-11 13:30 - 15:30, 2023-08-04 13:30 - 15:30 | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
Photo credit: Buzz Kuhns

Row in one of our iconic pilot gigs! Open to all rowing experience levels, beginner to expert, this 2-hour experience gives you the opportunity to learn how to row (or practice your rowing skills) in these large wooden rowing gigs and explore Lake Champlain from a new perspective. Participants must be 10 or older, each boat seats 6 rowers. Younger children are welcome to join to join along for the ride, but they will not be able to row.

Be sure to bring clothing that can get wet, as well as water to stay hydrated. We will provide longboats, oars, and personal flotation devises (PFDs). We also recommend you bring a hat and sunscreen to stay protected from the sun. This program is weather-dependent and we will communicate cancellations on the morning of the scheduled outing.

Accessibility: The boats are stable but wobbly, so a good sense of bodily balance is helpful. There is an 18 inch step-down from the docks to the boat. The boats are stationed at the waterfront in North Harbor with a moderately steep gravel path that leads to an ADA accessible dock. For accommodations, please contact staff at onwater@lcmm.org.

Register Here!

Environmental Justice on Lake Champlain
2023-08-11 13:00 - 14:00 | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
While climate change impacts nature and ecosystems, it also impacts people and their communities. To address these impacts, a movement called environmental justice aims for solutions that benefit all communities equally. At this free experience, learn about some of Lake Champlain’s environmental justice issues and which communities they disproportionately impact. You’ll also have the opportunity to reflect on action you can take as a steward of Lake Champlain.

Accessibility: Grass or gravel paths lead to the Clean Water Act area, and two wheelchair-accessible ramps lead up to the platform on either side. To avoid travel over grass or gravel, this event can also be held in the wheelchair-accessible Visitor Center upon request by emailing museumeducator@lcmm.org at least 24 hours before the event.

Indigenous Experiences in the Revolutionary War
2023-08-11 11:00 - 12:00, 2023-08-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
Indigenous people have lived in the Champlain Valley since time immemorial, and the American Revolutionary War brought many changes to their homelands and lifestyles. In this free, hour-long program, we’ll talk about the complicated relationships that the Six Nations, Abenakis, and Mohicans each had with the British and American sides, and we’ll explore the Revolutionary War with a focus on Indigenous experiences.

Accessibility: Key to Liberty has a wheelchair accessible ramp on the side of the building that points towards the waterfront (near Pine Grove). You can get to the building using either gravel paths or grass, and if you want to minimize how much time you have to spend on uneven terrain, you can enter through the Visitor Center right from the parking lot and exit through its other entrance. This event can also be held in the Visitor Center upon request by emailing museumeducator@lcmm.org at least 24 hours before the event.

Boat Building
2023-08-11 10:00 - 15:00, 2023-08-10 10:00 - 15:00, 2023-08-09 10:00 - 15:00, 2023-08-08 10:00 - 15:00, 2023-08-07 10:00 - 15:00 | Boat Shop, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Road, Vergennes, Vermont, 05491, United States
Watch boats being built! Boat builder Charlie Beyer will be in the boat shop from 10 am through 3 pm working on a batch of Split Rock Sailing Dinghies, which are a lightweight composite sailboat designed for us by Jim Donovan. Drop in to watch a little bit of the process, ask questions, and learn about this craft. These boats will join the Museum’s sailing fleet.

This is a free drop-in event. Specific occurrences might be cancelled due to weather or scheduling conflicts. We’ll do our best to update any cancellations within a 24-hour window.

Clean Water Act Tour
2023-08-10 13:30 - 15:00, 2023-08-08 13:30 - 15:00 | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
The Clean Water Act was signed in 1972 with the intention to make lasting change to the impacts that industries and infrastructure have on our waterways. Stop by this exhibit, on the green, to learn about how this act has changed the ways we treat our waterways, as well as the ways it falls short. Come learn what you can do to be a better steward of Lake Champlain!

A gradual ramp leads up to this exhibit making it accessible for all wheels.

ROV Shipwreck Tour
2023-08-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
Explore a shipwreck… without getting wet! There are hundreds of historic shipwrecks in Lake Champlain. Join us as we take a tour boat to the site of the Champlain II shipwreck and go for a “dive” using an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Our robotic camera sends back real-time video to an on-board monitor as we share the vessel’s dramatic story. Don’t miss this incredible experience- for all ages!

We will gather on the Museum green at 10:00 am and proceed to Basin Harbor as a group at 10:10 to begin the tour, which will run from 10:30 to noon. The walk to Basin Harbor is approximately a half-mile on pavement, and visitors may drive if needed. For accessibility requests and information please contact us by email at info@lcmm.org or by phone at 802-475-2022. Tickets are $25 kids/$40 adults.

Please note that due to recent historic rainfall and flooding in the region, the lake level has been higher than average. The lake is perfectly safe to enjoy by boat, but higher water levels create conditions in which our small ROV may not be able to dive. No matter the lake level, you will still be able to go on a boat tour, see shipwreck footage, and hear exciting stories!

Birding & Boating
2023-08-09 13:30 - 15:30 | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
Join us on canoes for a 2-hour program of paddling and exploring the birds of Otter Creek. This family-friendly program welcomes everyone from beginners to experts! Smaller children can take a middle seat at the bottom of the boat, where they will just go along for the ride, no paddling required. Learn tips and tricks for paddling on the water, or just come to explore the birds of Lake Champlain Basin.

Be sure to bring clothing that can get wet as well as water to stay hydrated. Bring your own pair of binoculars, we will have a couple pairs to pass around, but not enough for everyone. We will provide canoes, paddles and personal flotation devises (PFDs). We also recommend you bring a hat and sunscreen to stay protected from the sun. This program is weather-dependent and we will communicate cancellations the morning of the scheduled outing.

Accessibility: The boats are stable but wobbly, so a good sense of bodily balance is helpful. The boats are stationed at the waterfront, a moderately steep gravel path that leads to an ADA accessible dock located in North Harbor.

Register

The Many Faces of Prohibition
2023-08-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
Before federal prohibition in 1919, Vermont’s era of prohibition lasted from 1853-1903, with its own complexities, debates, and anecdotes. At this free experience, learn about the different groups of people in Vermont that Prohibition affected, as well as its lasting impact and relevance today.

Accessibility: The path to the Prohibition exhibit is gravelly or involves movement over grass. However, this event involves few artifacts specific to the exhibit location, so it can be held in the wheelchair-accessible Visitor Center upon request by emailing museumeducator@lcmm.org at least 24 hours in advance. Exhibit is located in the Lakeside Outdoor Gallery.

Hands-On Ecology
2023-08-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
Lake Champlain is an ecosystem that has evolved over time, and is still changing today. At this free experience, you’ll learn about some of the ecological challenges that Lake Champlain faces, including microplastics, invasive species, and cyanobacteria, and you’ll leave knowing what you can do to help!

Accessibility: The path down to the waterfront is gravelly and steep, but the docks are wheelchair-accessible. For a version of this program that does not take place by the lakefront, contact museumeducator@lcmm.org to set up a time in the wheelchair-accessible Visitor Center.

Collections Corner
2023-08-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Hazelett Small Watercraft Center, 4472 Basin Harbor Road, Vergennes, Vermont, 05491, United States
Are you interested in a glimpse of the postcards people sent each other hundreds of years ago? What about the musical instruments they played? At the Museum’s Collections Corner, get an up-close look at a variety of artifacts from our collections and hear about their unique stories, from objects used in battle to personal belongings collected from numerous time periods.

Accessibility: Hazelett Watercraft Center has two wheelchair accessible ramps. You can get to the building using either gravel paths or grass, and if you want to minimize how much time you have to spend on uneven terrain, you can enter through the Visitor Center right from the parking lot and exit through its other entrance. This event can also be held in the Visitor Center upon request by emailing museumeducator@lcmm.org at least 24 hours before the event.

Museum Overview Tour
2023-08-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
There’s a lot to see at the Museum! If you’re wondering where to start, come along on a free tour of the grounds that covers some of Lake Champlain’s narratives, from Revolutionary War history to personal and commercial boatbuilding to Prohibition in the region. Tours will begin on the Museum Green.

Accessibility: This tour will involve travel over gravel paths and grass for about one hour. For a similar program that involves minimal travel, Collections Corner covers a variety of artifacts from the Museum and can be held in the wheelchair-accessible Visitor Center upon request.

21st Century Developments in Nautical Archaeology
2023-08-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Key to Liberty at Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Road, Vergennes, Vermont, 05491, United States
Almost 250 years after the Revolutionary War, many vessels from the war are no longer present. Yet, nautical archaeology at historical sites can still uncover new information about important events by using technologies such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), metal detectors, and sonar. In this free program, learn about Revolutionary War events that happened along Lake Champlain and what our research can still teach us about them today.

Accessibility: Key to Liberty has a wheelchair accessible ramp on the side of the building that points towards the waterfront (near Pine Grove). You can get to the building using either gravel paths or grass, and if you want to minimize how much time you have to spend on uneven terrain, you can enter through the Visitor Center right from the parking lot and exit through its other entrance.

Canoeing for Conservation: The Nature of Invasive Species
2023-08-05 13:30 - 15:30 | Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Rd, Vergennes, VT, 05491, United States
What are invasive species? How did they find their way into our waters and onto our shores? What can we do about them? And why does this conversation matter?

In the Lake Champlain Basin, the number of invasive species have been growing ever since the colonizing organisms made their way to the region. From crowding out native species to decreasing nutrient resources in the waterways, come learn about the effect of invasive species in our basin.

During this 2-hour on-water program, you will have a chance to take a deeper dive into the basics of invasive species: Which invasives are present in Lake Champlain today, how they became so invasive, and why reducing their presence is top of mind for lovers of our lake and of biodiversity. Come ready to ask questions and get to the bottom of how invasive species influence our lake!

This program uses the Museum’s fleet of canoes and participants should have at least a basic level of experience with canoeing. This program is best suited for those who feel they can get in and out of a canoe, which requires a sense of balance as well as sitting down into a low boat, and an ability to paddle for short distances. Children under 10 can take a middle seat at the bottom of the boat, where they will just go along for the ride with no paddling expectation.

Be sure to bring clothing that can get wet as well as water to stay hydrated. We will provide canoes, paddles and personal flotation devises (PFDs). We also recommend you bring a hat and sunscreen to stay protected from the sun. This program is weather-dependent and we will communicate cancellations the morning of the scheduled outing.

Register Here!

Collections Corner: Shipwreck Simulator
2023-08-05 11:00 - 13:00 | Nautical Archaeology Center, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 4472 Basin Harbor Road, Vergennes, Vermont, 05491, United States
Try your hand at being an archaeologist! Visitors will experience an archaeological excavation firsthand in our shipwreck simulator. Staff will teach the basics of archaeological documentation and demonstrate how artifacts now in the Collection were recovered. The public will learn about the importance of context in both archaeological investigation and Museum interpretation through this program, as well as get a chance to make their own observations.

The shipwreck simulator is outdoors and can be reached by traversing several yards of flat, grassy terrain. For accessibility questions or requests, please contact the Museum at 802-475-2022 or info@lcmm.org.
