Cannery Boathouse Museum — Attraction in Glen Arbor Township

The Cannery Boathouse Museum in Glen Haven, Michigan, is a well-regarded maritime museum located in the historic Glen Haven Village along Lake Michigan, inside Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It offers an engaging glimpse into the area’s boating and maritime history, from Anishinaabe dugout canoes to US Coast Guard lifeboats used for rescues in harsh conditions. Visitors admire the museum for its variety of vessels, including a 36-foot Coast Guard lifeboat and a utility boat used to supply lighthouses from the 1920s-1960s. The museum building itself is a bright red former cannery that processed cherries and other fruits in the early 1900s, adding local historical context through exhibits about the area’s canned fruit industry. Reviews commonly praise the knowledgeable volunteers and informative displays. The museum is described as interesting, with good artifacts and multi-floor exhibits. One highlight is witnessing the firing of a Lyle Gun, historically used to rescue shipwrecked sailors when boats couldn’t reach them. It is considered a meaningful stop, especially for those interested in maritime life-saving history. The setting offers beautiful lake views and is part of a larger historic village with other attractions such as a blacksmith shop and a restored inn. The museum operates seasonally (Memorial Day through Labor Day) with daily hours from 11 AM to 5 PM, and admission typically requires a National Park pass. In summary, the Cannery Boathouse Museum is a charming, informative spot for maritime and local history enthusiasts, providing well-preserved exhibits, knowledgeable guides, and scenic surroundings along Lake...

This a great historical stop to learn about boating in the area, there is wealth of information about the park here and staff is very friendly. This is a North American Dark Skies/ Michigan Aurora endorsed stop. Some areas are handicapped accessible to view the Auroras. Which will be off to the left of you if you are facing directly at the water. This location is usually safe at night, there is lots off room to spread out and enjoy the northern lights. Bathrooms are usually open May through late Sept. PLEASE DO NOT PARK ON WEST SIDE OF CANNERY UNLESS YOU ARE HANDICAPPED. PLEASE FOLLOW NO PARKING SIGNS AND IF YOU MUST PARK ON THE ROAD PLEASE PARK ON THE LAKE SIDE SO YOU DON'T CROSS THE ROAD IN THE DARK. WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE SAFE AT NIGHT. NOT A GOOD IDEA TO BRING PETS HERE AT NIGHT, THERE IS WILD LIFE AT THIS LOCATION. TURN LIGHTS OUT AS SOON AS YOU PARK SO YOU DON'T BOTHER OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS. IF THIS LOCATION IS FULL, CHECK COAST GUARD STATION DOWN THE STREET. IF THAT IS FULL THEN TRY PLATTE RIVER MOUTH, ESCH BEACH OR GOOD HARBOR OFF BOHEMIAN ROAD THESE LOCATIONS HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM AND ARE SO CROWDED. LAST FEW SOLAR STORMS IN SEPTEMBER THIS LOCATION GO VERY CROWDED AND THE CROWD WAS CREATING UNSAFE PARKING SITUATIONS. PARK SERVICE DID HAVE MAPS TO ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS ON...

This place is so rich in history. We enjoyed the self guiding tour and talking with the volunteers who have so much knowledge and are happy to chat and answer questions. We explored the grounds and were thrilled to see that thet are trying to restore even more buildings here. We sent time also just walking the shore because the views were amazing as we looked out towards the island. Can't wait to visit again to see how the restoration of the other buildings are coming along. What gem found off the beaten path. Drive a bit further east and check out the Coastguard station as well. Great self guiding...