Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship Now Illuminates Downtown Toledo Skyline
October 1, 2025 (Toledo, Ohio) – The National Museum of the Great Lakes proudly announced the official exterior lighting of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship during last week’s Legacy in Lights: The Schoonmaker Shines celebration.
Thanks to the vision and generosity of The Admiral Society, the museum’s leadership-level membership group, the Schoonmaker now glows along both sides of its hull, becoming a permanent and iconic feature of Toledo’s nighttime skyline.
“Seeing the Schoonmaker lit for the first time was truly breathtaking,” said Sara Smith, the museum’s Director of Institutional Advancement. “This project highlights the power of The Admiral Society members—leaders who not only support our mission but also shape the future of how we share Great Lakes history with our community.”
Each year, The Admiral Society selects a special “future-building” project to fund, ranging from artifact acquisitions and new exhibitions to educational outreach initiatives. For 2025, members chose to illuminate the Schoonmaker, ensuring that the ship’s presence is celebrated both day and night along the downtown Toledo skyline.
Originally launched in 1911 and now serving as a museum vessel, the Schoonmaker stands as one of the most recognizable pieces of Great Lakes maritime history. Its new exterior lighting underscores both the museum’s commitment to preservation and Toledo’s growing reputation as a Great Lakes city.
About the National Museum of the Great Lakes: The National Museum of the Great Lakes preserves, shares, and celebrates the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story. As an interactive, experiential museum, we offer visitors the chance to explore thousands of years of history and stories through nine dynamic exhibit galleries—including a rotating temporary exhibition space—and two historic museum vessels, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio, plus the pilothouse of the storied St. Marys Challenger.
Founded in 1944 as the Great Lakes Historical Society, we have a long-standing commitment to education, research, and storytelling. Our initiatives include the publication of Inland Seas®, a quarterly journal of Great Lakes history since 1945 and decades of maritime preservation and archaeological exploration. Today, we strive to be the gathering place for Great Lakes conversations—welcoming all to connect with the stories, people, and innovations that have shaped and continue to influence this vital region.
