Technology and Realistic Hands-on Engagement – Port Huron Museums Welcomes the Community to Experience the Updated Pilot House Exhibit
A popular long-standing exhibit at the Port Huron Museums’ Carnegie Museum site recently went through a technological and interactive upgrade. Users and nautical enthusiasts can experience an interactive video view of various waterway scenarios from the Pilot House.
A private grand opening for the updated Pilot House will be hosted for donors and Port Huron Museums members on May 1. However, the exhibit is open right now to the public and ready to be enjoyed by all Carnegie Museum guests.
This unique space is a 1983 pilot house replica at the command center of a Great Lakes freighter. While the setting remains intact, visitors and “Captains” can now steer the original wheel of the ship through various scenarios that are depicted on the screens viewed through the Pilot House windows. The latest edition of this popular longtime exhibit offers a scenic, historical and interactive view as the ship glides through the visual scenarios that can be selected for the screens.
Emily Reitzel, Curator of Collections & Exhibits for Port Huron Museums explains the unique and fun interaction the Pilot House now provides for guests and learners in this maritime space. “The Pilot House at the Carnegie Museum has gone through a huge technology upgrade and is now more immersive than ever before. While most of the original Pilot House replica built in the 1980s is still intact, many aspects have undergone some big changes.” Previously, a large mural of Lake Huron depicting some major local landmarks such as the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse and the HURON Lightship was housed behind the curved wall of windows to show the Captain’s view from the Pilot House, as if the ship was positioned in the St. Clair River. For the upgrade, the mural was removed to make room for multiple TV screens that now serve as the display for a variety of fully interactive maritime scenarios, each with a slightly different directive. Using the original ship’s wheel, guests can control a freighter as it makes its way down the St. Clair River, through downtown Port Huron, under the Blue Water Bridge and into Lake Huron. Visitors can even try their hand at surviving the great Storm of 1913 on the Charles S. Price. “Playing through these scenarios will introduce guests to the local landscape, navigational aids and rules of waterways, as well as the history of landmarks seen along the route. The sights, sounds and ambiance of the scenarios makes you feel as if you are truly on board a real ship!” noted Reitzel.
The Pilot House is being dedicated in honor of longtime PH Museums supporter and influential community leader, Donna Niester. These fun, new interactive functions of the Pilot House revamp were inspired by Donna, and the in-game ship is suitably named after her. “Donna Niester left a lasting impact on our community,” explained Executive Director of Port Huron Museums Veronica Campbell. “Donna believed in the power of education, in building a stronger region and in supporting places like the Port Huron Museums that bring people together. Honoring her through this project felt natural and essential. It’s a way to recognize everything she gave while continuing the work she believed in. Donna championed our mission and supported our vision for creating spaces that are welcoming, meaningful and connected to the community. This project is a tribute to her legacy, her contributions and the lasting mark she left on our whole community.”
To create the experience of the new Pilot House, Port Huron Museums worked with Monica Knutson and Joe Rugowski from Digital Design Services out of Green Bay, Wisconsin to develop the interactive scenarios and all of the programs visualized on the screens. “They were on site a few different times towards the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025 to handle all of the physical installation of the new technology. They are now able to update, change and add new information remotely as needed,” explained Reitzel.
The chart table in the Pilot House also received a tech upgrade. The center console of the table is now completely touch screen and provides guests with a plethora of information to browse. Users can examine both historical and modern nautical charts, learn about aids to navigation and discover the history of lighthouses and lightships in the area through textual content and photographs from the Port Huron Museums archival collection. On either side of the center console is a lighted case that provides a new space for Port Huron Museums to display relevant artifacts.
“This new exhibit is a huge asset to both our museum and the community at large” noted Reitzel. “Maritime history comprises a large part of the identity of our region and we love to celebrate it. The Pilot House has been a guest favorite for years – we have people come in all the time who remember seeing it years ago as a kid and are now bringing their own children to check it out together. It is so fulfilling to be able to continue providing this experience, just in a more modern and immersive way for all!”
Updating permanent exhibits helps the museum evolve into the 21st century and serves as a nice refresh for returning guests over time. Reitzel said, “I think this project is unique in that we are able to show the past, present and future of the maritime nature of our community using a single platform. It is not only fun but it will offer a lot of versatility as it moves forward and continues to be a guest-favorite exhibit within the museum.”
Come see the Pilot House at the Carnegie Museum: 1115 Sixth Street, Port Huron, 48060