Top of The Lake Snowmobile Museum

The Top of The Lake Snowmobile Museum, Naubinway Michigan
Upper Peninsula Antique Snowmobiles

About Us
Welcome to the the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum of Naubinway, Michigan. We are a non-profit corporation with a 501c3 status. With the help of many volunteers, various funds and donors, we have established an antique & vintage snowmobile museum in Naubinway, Michigan on the north side of US-2 across from the business district.

We currently hold two major antique snowmobile events annually that is suitable for the entire family: The Annual Top of the Lake Swap Meet and the Anqtique & Vintage Snowmobile Show and Ride. Both are held in Naubinway, Michigan. Please visit our Featured Snowmobile Events page for more information.

The Museum Board is continuing to work on funding for our new building which will be located on the north side of US 2 in Naubinway. We currently have so many items coming in, we're about to burst at the seams. Hopefully, we'll have more information in the coming months.

Mission Statement
To establish a facility to preserve and display to the public the history of snowmobiling, including snowmobile related memorabilia and literature.

To provide an educational center and meeting center for the Naubinway Land of Echoes Tribal Elders.

To provide a community welcome center for the Naubinway/Engadine Merchants Association.

To promote the Upper Peninsula and Naubinway as a travel destination by car and snowmobile via the attraction of an international museum.

Partnerships
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Land of Echoes Tribal Elders Center
Top of the Lake Communities Association
Mackinac County Board of Commissioners

Our History - A Timeline on How We Got Started

2003 The “ Show regulars” in the Naubinway, Michigan area talked about how to show antique snowmobiles inside a facility.
In April, 2006 we held our first organized meeting at the Kings Motel Spa Room.
Mackinac Co. EDC told us they may have some funds for this project.
Charlie Vallier volunteered to chair the group and several business people were at the meeting.
We held several meetings on how to form a non-profit organization, business plan, mission statement, and build a board of directors list.
Our name was chosen to stay cohesive with the Merchant’s Assoc theme of Top of the Lake. Our location is the most northern point of Lake Michigan.
The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum met with Tom Farnquist of the Shipwreck Museum, to encourage and inspire our group with his wisdom and business knowledge.
Began working in partnership with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians on a new building.
May, 2007 the old Laundromat, recently purchased by a local businessman, became available to us to use.
We spent 6 weeks renovating the building, utilizing all volunteer help and opened our establishment on July 4, 2007.
The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum opened with 62 sleds owned by nine people along with some interesting memorabilia.
The response was great! Now we have 82 sleds owned by 40 people, 9 donated to the museum, along with a wide variety of donated memorabilia. We have also had 6 sleds donated to the museum to use as raffle fundraisers. All funds received from donated items at our fundraisers are then used for museum operation.
The Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum is currently seeking funding for a new, larger building on US 2. Our goals include: larger museum, meeting room, library available to visitors, and office space for the local Commu nities Association and the local Land of Echoes Tribal Elders.
Our current board consists of 10 members.
We are a 501c3, non-profit organization and are able to give a tax deductible receipt for all donations.