Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum — Attraction in Whitefish Township

This is an interesting drive 😬on a long narrow winding bumpy road, seemingly to nowhere 😯. More than once you will ask yourself, where are you going? Or why anyone would ever go here.🤷🏻‍♂️ But alas your questions will be answered when you arrive at the dead end. Actually there's a circle at the end that heads you back down the same bumpy winding road when you leave. Note to those of you with RVs or towing trailers, especially those with 5er's, or towing a car - DON'T. This is not a road well traveled by RVs, nor is there any place to put it when you get to the end of the Earth 🫣. Be advised the only gas station for miles will be the one in Paradise.

Okay so arriving at the cute little Coast Guard station village, You make your way to the gift shop where you buy your ticket. The gift shop is rather small and crowded ay housed in one of the original buildings. All of the buildings have been remarkably restored (more about that later). Your tour starts in the building next to the gift shop where you will see a short movie about the Edmund Fitzgerald. You will learn the story behind the bell which is in the large museum building. This building is magnificent inside and laid out in chronological order about the shipwrecks, remember that's why you're there 😉Plan to be there before noon. After about 1:00 p.m. it just gets entirely too crowded. These buildings do not have enough space in them to hold the number of people who were there when I left 2 hours later. Cars were parked on the side of the road for quite a distance. And there really isn't any room on the side of the road.

This is fascinating history not only in the lighthouse building but in the Coast guard building. I'm amazed at how many people were rescued trying to round this point for a Whitefish Bay. It really puts into perspective how important this passage was and still is, for freighters. There is someone in each building to answer your questions, and I had several.🤫 This method of using a small canon to shoot a rescue line a few hundred yards offshore to a stricken ship is mind-boggling 😳

The lighthouse building is quite extravagant for its day. The woodwork is remarkable. And there's a story behind it so please ask the person in the building. It was very upper class living for the day. And one of the most extravagant lighthouse buildings I've ever seen 😱 Oh and the mannequins are incredibly detailed and life-like. I overheard more than one person saying they mistakingly asked the mannequin a question 🤭

There are three boardwalk trails here. Each takes you to a totally different terrain. One takes you to the beach. One takes you to the dunes. And one takes you to an area that looks like it is often flooded.

The gift shop is cute and there's plenty of things to look at. Hopefully you won't have a young couple decide to bring their double baby stroller inside, instead of parking it outside and carrying the babies in 🤷🏻‍♂️🤦‍♂️. There's barely enough room in this store to walk between the clothing racks let alone try and maneuver a baby bus...

The beach is nice to walk on and wade out and look through stones for those special rocks👀. Wear a 🩲 bathing suit and bring water shoes if you have them. Bring a...

WAY TOO CROWDED! We went on a Thursday. Parking was atrocious. But we were there so we went in. After we bought the ticket, I asked when do they close and was told 5pm. That gave us 45 minutes. I guess I should have asked that before I bought the ticket. They put wristbands on you because only the paying customers can go into the buildings with exhibits. They supplied a map too. You buy the tickets in the Gift Shop and there are signs outside to guide you there.

The first building, the shipwreck exhibit had a drove of people. It was a constant line circling the entire room. RIDICULOUS! Too crowded to enjoy!! We saw 2 things and I had to get out of there because it was a joke, you could not even enjoy your time in there. The setup here reminded me of the Titanic exhibit.

We went to the Light Keepers building next. The lady was super nice there. I told her how crowded it was and in 45 minutes with this crowd there was no way you could enjoy the place. She was kind and told us about the Light Keeper and the building for about 5 minutes and then a crowd hit the building. I asked her directions to the Falls because we had missed our turn. Her directions were spot on, THANK YOU!

The surf building or boat house building was the last. We were in there 3 minutes before a crowd came in and filled the space where you could barely maneuver. We left after seeing one exhibit. RIDICULOUS!!

Everywhere I go to visit, I always take tons of photos. I took 3 here. Worst experience, too crowded! I really wanted a refund, seriously! The person selling us our ticket should have told us we would only have 45 minutes because I would have passed and saved $30 and a whole lot of aggravation.

The gift shop is big. They have a small space that has cold subs and ice cream to purchase. If you go out the front and to the right and around to the back side of that building there is a drink machine. The door there, go in and you will find the bathrooms down the hall. There is a snack machine just inside that door as well.

I did not enjoy the drive from Sault St Marie to here. You cannot miss this location because the road...

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is an absolute gem and a must-visit for anyone with an interest in maritime history or a love for the Great Lakes region. The museum is thoughtfully curated, offering a wealth of information about the many shipwrecks that have occurred in the treacherous waters of Lake Superior.

The exhibits are both educational and engaging, with a perfect mix of artifacts, multimedia displays, and interactive elements that capture the imagination of visitors of all ages. The highlight, of course, is the poignant story of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which is presented with great respect and detail, providing deep insight into this tragic event.

The staff at the museum are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the subject matter, always ready to answer questions and share fascinating anecdotes. The museum's location is also stunning, nestled by the beautiful shoreline, adding to the overall experience.

Whether you are a history buff, a maritime enthusiast, or just looking for a unique and enriching outing, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum will not disappoint. It is a place of learning, reflection, and wonder, truly celebrating the rich maritime heritage of the Great Lakes. Highly...