Admiral Society Selects 2025 Future-Building Project: Schoonmaker Illumination

The National Museum of the Great Lakes is proud to announce that The Admiral Society, the museum’s highest level of membership, has selected the Schoonmaker Illumination Project as its 2025 future-building initiative. This member-driven investment will enhance the visibility and beauty of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, creating a striking new lighting installation to showcase one of Toledo’s most iconic landmarks.

The project was selected during the Admiral Society’s second annual Selection Dinner on May 28—an elegant evening that brought together the museum’s most engaged supporters to determine which project would receive dedicated funds from their collective contributions. In its second year, the Society had $90,000 in funds available to support the selected project, with remaining proceeds earmarked for future investments.

“Each year, our Admiral Society members help shape the legacy of our institution by funding meaningful and lasting improvements,” said Sara Smith, Director of Institutional Advancement with the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “The Schoonmaker Illumination Project is a perfect example of their dedication to preserving and enhancing the visibility of Great Lakes history.”

The Schoonmaker Illumination Project will light the historic freighter in a way that both honors its past and invites the community to see it in a new light—quite literally. This enhancement will not only improve the visitor experience but also highlight the museum ship as a beacon along the Maumee Riverfront and within Downtown Toledo’s skyline.

The National Museum of the Great Lakes extends sincere gratitude to all Admiral Society members for their vision, generosity, and role in guiding the museum’s future.

To learn more about The Admiral Society and how to get involved, visit nmgl.org/admiral-society.