THE SOCIETY AT A GLANCE

The Admiral Society is meant to engage a higher level of interaction between the museum and leadership-level supporters. The Admiral Society invites individuals to join the National Museum of the Great Lakes as members at an annual support level of $5,000 (Admiral), $2,500 (Vice Admiral), or $6,000 (Corporate).

The Admiral Society members play an active role in shaping portions of the museum’s curation and programming. Part of each member’s annual contribution funds “future-building” maritime history projects (artifact acquisition, exhibition creation, educational outreach opportunities, etc.) as determined by The Admiral Society members.

To achieve our mission, The Admiral Society’s annual activities during our initial years are divided into 2 seasons: 1.) Recruitment & Education (July – to December) and 2.) Selection & Experience (January – June). Membership renewal for all members of The Admiral Society takes place during the Recruitment & Education season.

Membership for our third year of The Admiral Society opens on July 1, 2025. If you are interested in membership and would like more information, please reach out to Sara Smith at 419-214-5000 ext. 207 or sara.smith@nmgl.org.

BECOME A MEMBER

The Admiral Society invites individuals to join the National Museum of the Great Lakes at an annual support level of $5,000 (Admiral), $2,500 (Vice Admiral), or $6,000 (Corporate). Membership provides exclusive benefits and funds “future-building” projects and acquisitions. Selection events provide a deeper dive into Great Lakes history while serving as a foundation for the annual project selection vote.

ADMIRAL LEVEL: $5,000

• Invitation to The Admiral Society Members Only events*
• Voting privileges to select annual “future-building” maritime history projects (2 votes per membership)
• Advanced access to Museum acquisitions
• Private previews and after-hours access
• Exclusive opportunities to meet and connect with Museum leadership and curatorial staff
• All Inland Seas Society Patron member benefits (See a complete list at: nmgl.org/membership)

ADMIRAL LEVEL (Corporate): $6,000

• Includes one (1) member to be recognized at the Admiral Level alongside the corporate sponsor’s business name.
• Invitation to The Admiral Society Members Only events plus the option of inviting up to 3 additional guests (Primary member + 3 guests).
• Corporate-level memberships have the option of adding additional members at the Vice Admiral level at an additional membership fee of $1,500.
• Plus, all Admiral Level benefits listed above.

VICE ADMIRAL LEVEL: $2,500

• Invitation to The Admiral Society Members Only events*
• Voting privileges to select annual “future-building” maritime history projects (1 vote per membership)
• Advanced access to the Museum acquisitions
• Exclusive opportunities to meet and connect with Museum leadership and curatorial staff
• All Inland Seas Society Patron member benefits (See a complete list at: nmgl.org/membership)

* All Admiral Society event invitations include The Admiral Society member + Guest. 

Get more information about membership in this exclusive society by downloading our Membership Brochure and/or sending an email to Sara Smith at sara.smith@nmgl.org. To join now, use the button below (credit card transactions only) or download and return our Membership Form via email or mail.

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PLEASE NOTE: For tax purposes, approximately $500 of The Admiral Society Membership is allocated to goods and services provided through your membership.