About this Exhibit

The Detroit Historical Society is home to one of the largest collections of Great Lakes ship models in the country. Most of the more than 150 models are five or six decades old, while at least one dates to 1854. The ship models represent over 300 years of North American fresh water maritime history. In many cases, the models themselves are historic; in other cases they represent significant examples of technological advances that powered social and economic aspects of the region’s history.

The Richard and Jane Manoogian Ship Model Showcase is a changing exhibition space. Once a year, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum curators change the ships on display in order to display this significant collection. Models currently on display are:

John G. Munson
Artist: Kenneth Fairbanks
Year: c. 1953-56
Ship built: 1952

Restored by conservator Clara Deck

This cutaway model gives a glimpseof the John G. Munson’s interior and the mechanisms by which it unloads its cargo. The actual ship is still active today and has primarily moved limestone in its career. Plans were made available by the Michigan Limestone and Chemical Co. for model building when the ship was launched. It took builder Kenneth Fairbanks three years to assemble, but the results are truly impressive.  

Mayflower
Artist: James R. Cunningham
Year: 1854
Ship built: 1849

Restored by conservator Clara Deck

This model is the oldest in the collection. It was built in 1854, the year the ship was wrecked for the second and final time.  

A passenger steamship with a capacity of 800 people, the Mayflower transported travelers from Detroit to Buffalo, New York. The artist entered this model into competition at the 1854 Michigan State Fair, where it won the medal that is now attached to the ship’s front deck.

In 2022, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum displayed over 150 Great Lakes model ships in Maritime Miniatures: The Art of the Ship Model. The admission fees and donations received during the exhibition's run went directly toward the restoration and upkeep of this extensive collection. 

The Mayflower and John G. Munson were the first models selected for restoration because of their significance to the collection. The Mayflower is the museum’s oldest model, and over time experienced some deterioration. The John G. Munson is one of the largest models in the collection, with a unique cutaway view to show its self-unloading holds. It suffered some damage in an accident many years ago. The restoration is now complete and on display! 

Conservator Clara Deck, expertly matched paint colors, repaired cracks, replaced missing parts and more, making these wonderful pieces of craftsmanship look good as new. Both models have received new enclosures to ensure they stay as safe and secure as possible for years to come. 

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