So just an important FYI, the museum is as morbid as you'd expect from a shipwreck museum. Other than that holy cow was it very informative and interesting. Also really eye opening, like I had no clue about any of the stuff. Also the bell from the Fitzgerald was really neat to see. read more

Well worth our time and the price of admission. I had no idea there had been so many shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. As a diver, I am really jealous of the guys who are exploring these wrecks for the first time and bringing back significant pieces from history - especially ships' bells. The story of the Alberta sinking the John M. Osborn was especially captivating. It was the 4th ship the Alberta had sunk in a month! "The ALBERTA carries Her Majesty's mail. Other boats must get out of her way." - Captain Anderson of the Alberta. read more

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As someone who is born and bred in the Great Lakes Region, and is somewhat of a shipwreck nerd, I've been wanting to visit for many years, and it far exceeded my expectations. The campus is beautiful and well-maintained. Admission is $15, which I consider a steal - there are six buildings you can enter, each with their own "theme", as well as an interpreter to answer any questions. We spent way longer than we anticipated. While each building is small, they are packed with displays, artifacts, and informational graphics that really highlight many of the individuals that were involved in the U.S. Lighthouse Service, as well individuals who were involved in some of rhe over 550 shipwrecks on Lake Superior alone. The main gallery/building (the one with the bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald) was particularly beautiful and very moving. I'm not ashamed to admit that this was a pretty emotional experience for me. After you view the very moving displays, the beach is right there to walk along and contemplate the fragility of human life in the face of chaotic nature. Whitefish Point is also home to the Seney National Wildlife Refuge and an Audubon Bird Observatory. Yes, it's a long drive from, well, anywhere. But the drive is scenic, and the small town of Paradise is only about 10 miles away and offers plenty of lodging and nice diners and such for those needs. Taquamenon Falls is also quite close, and a wonderful experience in and of itself. This place is truly a gem, and an important place to visit for anyone interested in history, seafaring, nature, etc. I couldn't recommend it more. read more

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This museum is worth the drive out to the point. Depending on which direction you are coming from it is a lovely drive along the scenic byway. The museum itself costs $15. It is a not-for-profit so that felt fair. Of all of the buildings you can tour the actual museum building that documents a number of the shipwrecks was the most interesting. You really get the sense of how dangerous the waters of Lake Superior are especially in this area. The exhibits are well done and educational. We also liked the short movie about the sinking of and the recovery of the Edmund Fitzgerald's bell. The light keepers house and the other buildings were interesting but not as compelling as the stories of the wrecks. In addition the surrounding area is a bird watching hot spot though the day we were here it was too cold and windy to spend much time outside. Yeah it was May 30th! read more

Spent much more time here than anticipated! the movie about recovering the bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald is worth watching, but it doesn't have to be viewed before you do anything else. We found the rescue exhibit particularly interesting, along with the lighthouse keeper's cottage. Had no idea there have been so many wrecks on the Great Lakes. Walked the beach for quite a distance; great place for a picnic, or just to relax and watch other people and the waves. About an hour north of St. Ignace, easy drive, but you might feel like you've driven too far and somehow missed it; just keep driving! Cannot be missed. Never would have gone here but for the recommendations of several locals to St.Ignace area. read more

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum - dive suit - Museums Near Me - Paradise, Michigan

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The location and grounds are beautiful and well maintained. The staff is friendly and nice. The buildings follow self guided tours which is great. read more

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum - Museums Near Me - Paradise, Michigan

We were probably as excited to see this as Mackinac and it was definitely worth the drive. The main artifact room is great, if a little text-heavy (tricky when you're visiting with younger kids, so just be prepared to spend a little extra time reading to them) and the thing they really loved was questioning the interpreter in the Coast Guard building! We didn't even have time for the movie... and didn't explore the beach at all. The one thing I would wish to see would be some shaded seating... we had to sit on some steps in the shade of a building to eat lunch. Maybe this will be part of their upcoming renovation. read more

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This was an incredible experience. The museum and all buildings were in beautiful condition. The staff were amazing, friendly, and very knowledgeable. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The deck and beach area were lovely to enjoy on a hot sunny day. read more

One of the most unique tours I have ever taken. The company is well organized and run. Their staff is very knowledgeable, as well as funny and friendly! The glass bottom boat is easy to see the shipwrecks through and great care has been taken to make sure every single visitor aboard gets a front row seat read more

What an amazing place. Definitely worth a visit, even though the drive from the Mackinac Bridge through the Upper Peninsula is almost 2 hours through desolate forested roads with little evidence of civilization. Once there, tickets to the museum include the main building with displays of about 10-ish shipwrecks and other buildings on site including the lighthouse keeper's residence, coast guard residences, a coast guard surf boathouse, a gift shop and restrooms. Visitors also can view a short movie documenting the search for the Edmund Fitzgerald and her bell that Canadian divers recovered and bequeathed to the United States. It resides in the museum- a tribute to the ship's souls lost at sea. Everything is clean and welcoming, and the docents are full of historical information that supplement the wall posters that tell of life at Whitefish Point. A short walk to the beach gives a glimpse of the Lake Superior shoreline filled with driftwood and not far from where so many men lost their lives when the wind and waves grew angry and swallowed their vessels. read more

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Loved this! It does cost $ to get in, and admission gets you to all the available buildings. The history and facts were all so interesting and we got to view a freighter pass along the beach. Great stop! read more

Disclaimer: There is limited to no cell phone coverage there. Your phone may even think you are in Canada. And bring bug spray. The mosquitos love this place too and are all over. This attraction is awesome. It is a campus, consisting of various buildings with exhibits that include the shipwreck museum (where you purchase your ticket that gets you into all exhibits), a lighthouse keeper's home, a gift shop, a US Coast Guard Rescue Boat Station, and the lighthouse and tower. It is also adjacent to a beach. The museum is respectfully done and has exhibits from historically shipwrecks in the area. It is kind of small, but there is so much more to see on campus. It takes longer to see everything than you think. The lighthouse keeper's home is well kept and does a great job putting you back in that time. They have bedrooms, kitchens... and the mannequins in there are so life like. There is where we met Bev, a very friendly and helpful worker that gave us tons of information and stories about the lighthouse. The gift shop is relatively big and you can buy magnets, sweatshirts, mugs, post cards, figurines. ice cream and fudge, yes fudge. The US Coast Guard Station has a replica boat like the one used by the Lifesaving Service and gives the Service's history. They have other artifacts in the small building there as well. For an extra $5 donation you can pay to climb the tower. If you are afraid of heights then maybe you should skip the tower climb. We had someone that climbed the tower and was afraid of heights. It did not go well and affected everyone else that climbed. There is also a step climb up a tight stairwell to get to the top of the tower. You get some nice view of the campus, the beach, the US-Canadian border, and the Lake. read more

Very interesting small place if you're looking for history of some shipwrecks of the Great Lakes. I got a couple books in their giftshop and read a quarter of one on the way to the soo. I found it an interesting cute place. read more

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The beach really is the star of the show here in addition to the main building of the museum. While there are a lot of buildings, only a handful are accessible. The others are in use as it's a working lighthouse. My kids enjoyed the main displays. It was equally interesting and saddening to read about the myriad of shipwrecks that have occurred in the Great Lakes. The diving suits were a highlight. My small kids and I spent a good couple hours at the adjoining beach. It's full of rocks of all colors, big and small, and as long as you have sandals or water shoes, it's a great swimming option in August when the water is warmer. We brought a picnic and a couple chairs and their swimsuits and spent a lot of time relaxing and playing. read more

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum was a favorite stop on a trip around the Great Lakes. Learning about the lives of heroic lighthouse keepers and surf boat rescuers was inspiring. I wanted to learn more about the tragedy of Edmund Fitzgerald and it was a sobering experience. The museum is on a beautiful lake shoreline and is a must for anyone interested in the history of maritime events. read more

Educational with great information on many of the shipwrecks in the area plus some items salvaged from the wrecks. Good movie on the recovery of the Edmund Fitzgerald bell. Good display about the Edmund Fitzgerald. Good to see a lighthouse living quarters. read more

While staying in St Ignace we were looking for a day trip to keep us amused and thought why not take in the G.L. Shipwreck Museum as there is so much maritime history here in in the Great Lakes basin. It was worth the drive north. We arrived on a picture perfect day in the high 60's and sunny. It was worth the price of admission for sure. Cool pieces of historical shipwrecks in the small museum, 20 minute video on the Edmund Fitzgerald, Light Keepers quarters tour, see the surf boats they used to use to rescue stranded sailors, and enjoy the grounds. I have to say the best part of the place is the fact they are right on the shores of Lake Superior. Take the time to enjoy the sandy beach on one of the most amazing bodies of water around. Collect rocks from the shore, climb on driftwood that has been washed up, enjoy the sound of the water... who knows you may even see a Laker sail by on their way up or down-bound to distant ports. If you are looking for a place to spend a few hours taking in some fascinating history in a unique location this is a place to go. You can even make an night of it too as they offer accommodations in the old crew quarters on the property. read more

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Mosquitoes everywhere. Other then that, this was a very interesting stop on my U.P. vacation. The museum is fairly new and has displays of the fallen ships at Whitefish Point. In another building they show a 15 minute movie about the Edmond Fitzgerald. Another building houses the gift shop, and then there is the lighthouse where the keeper once loved with his wife and ten(!) children. It is reconstructed to show what it was like for the families of different decades. Admission varies. Only active military (not veterans) get a discount, but they do offer a handicapped discount because of all the stairs and the buildings are not handicapped accessible. read more

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum - Museums Near Me - Paradise, Michigan

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This is a small but nicely done museum. The old lighthouse is nice too. It is a bit expensive, $13 for adults, considering we were there less than an hour. It is also a bit out of the way. Be careful as you are so close to Canada your cell phone might pick up a Canadian tower. We had one day to see the Shipwreck museum, see the falls, and hike at Pictured Rocks. If I had it to do over again, I would have skipped the museum to spend more time at Pictured Rocks. read more

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Great small museum that gives an excellent overview of the Maritime history on lake Superior. Aside from the main museum you can go inside the lighthouse and into some other historical buildings. The gift shop also had really good fudge. read more

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Such a wonderful place!! So beautiful and reverently created for all those lost souls and their vessels. There was no negative to this place, none! The staff, the grounds, the tributes, all of it is worth every penny! This is a place I hope I remember to my own passing. read more

This is a real nice little museum. The shipwreck stories and artifacts are interesting. I like the model boats with the exhibits. I also enjoyed the life of a lighthouse family exhibits. And the Lake Superior rocky beach is just gorgeous right there. (Good gift shop too.) read more

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While on a tour of northern MI with my man, we explored the Shipwreck Museum and stayed a night at the on-site (restored) 1923 Coast Guard Lifeboat Station Crews Quarters. We wanted a "different" kind of stay in the UP, and this definitely fit the bill. Rooms are $150/night and include a year membership to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society and admission to the museum buildings also on-site. Am I a shipwreck fanatic? No. However, I do sound like one now because of the high praise I've been giving this place since our stay. Okay, so maybe I am a little bit now..? The museum is located on a desolate stretch of beach at Whitefish Point. There's not much else right around the museum, and I loved that about it. The place got very quiet at night, and we took long walks up to the bird conservatory lookout and along the curving beach while watching huge ships pass by. Very cool. Staff was very warm and friendly, and so were the other guests! We really enjoyed our stay and exploring the museum and surrounding buildings (bird conservatory, lighthouse!, lightkeeper's house, etc.) All the history in this area is spectacular. If you ARE a shipwreck fanatic and you haven't already checked this place out, add it to your list ASAP, and try to spend a night. If you're not a shipwreck fanatic, but you enjoy gorgeous scenery, non-populated beachfront, pasties (sold in the cafe), serene woods, bird watching, maritime history - add it to your list too. Warning: You will have this song [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A ] stuck in your head for days (or weeks) after your visit. read more

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The lighthouse or light-tower located at Whitefish Point has been in operation for over 150 years. The shipwreck museum located here is dedicated to the many ships and lives that have been lost on the Great Lakes over the centuries. The most well-known of these ships is probably the Edmund Fitzgerald made famous by the 1976 hit song by Gordon Lightfoote called "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". In the museum is the ship's bell from the Fitzgerald as well as a scale model of its broken hull on the bottom of Lake Superior. The ship, once the largest ore carrier on the Great Lakes, went down with all hands mysteriously on November 10, 1975 during a storm just 17 miles away from this park. On display are also many other ship models and a very complete history of commerce on the Great Lakes. The light tower also shows reproductions of the light tower crew's houses. Tour what a keeper's house looked like inside. One can image the isolation of serving here with a family. Nearby are sandy beaches and the giant fresh water lake that looks like an ocean. We visited on a slightly windy day and watched white caps breaking on the shore. We could just imagine the final moments of the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald as she slipped beneath those icy waters! To learn more about great lakes shipping and shipwrecks as well as how a light tower worked, visit The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point. read more

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Very nice museum with many interesting artifacts. They are renovating the theatre so they gave us a disc with the video to watch at home. We were there on a Saturday so there were Doesents in each building to describe the rooms and add to the experience. The admission was $12 with AAA. It's a very good facility and you'll see quite a bit about the Edmund Fitzgerald. read more

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A super nice place with very kind workers, especially James and Andrew. Andrew was Very knowledgeable on the history of the lighthouse and made the experience very interesting. Also a beautiful view on Lake Superior. read more

This museum is a national treasure and well worth a visit when you are in the UP area. There are displays of several wrecks and artifacts of shipwrecks and diving technology. There is a lighthouse to tour and a film of the Edmund Fitzgerald loss and recovery. The area of Whitefish Point is beautiful and accessible. You could spend a couple of hours or longer as you wish. It is about a 90 minute drive from St Ignas through scenic forest areas. read more

So I planned a whole Pure Michigan vacation for my family, Lighthouses, shopping in Traverse City, the old Northern Michigan Asylum tour, Mackinaw City, Castle Rock, re-staging old photographs from my youth but now with MY family... This place was THE highlight of the trip. As an old retired Navy man I was most interested in the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, but my family also enjoyed it very much. The trip up was through a very secluded area and was just a delight to drive. Coming around the curve in the road revealing the first glimpse of Lake Superior in all its splendor was breathtaking. The museum was very crowded the day we visited, but we were able to enjoy all of its features. Being mere inches away from the bell recovered from the Edmund Fitzgerald was a humbling experience. However the Edmund Fitzgerald is not the only shipwreck displayed at this museum. The loss of life due to the shipwrecks is staggering and the museum does a very good job of presenting the history of these losses in a way that honors the service of these fellow Mariners. I would recommend doing what we did in taking a picnic lunch with you and stopping at one of the several roadside parks along the route from St. Ignace to Whitefish Point if that's the route you take. Have a full tank of gas when you start out as services and restaurants are very limited in this area. Thank you, Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, for maintaining such a wonderful place. See you next season. read more

We stayed one night in the restored Coast Guard Crew Quarters they rent out on-site and it was positively lovely. Comfy, well furnished bedrooms and common space, fully stocked kitchen (no stove though) with free continental breakfast in the morning. The price of the room is considered a donation and as a result half the cost is tax deductible (save those receipts!) and you get access to the museum free and 10% off at the gift shop. Super quiet at night. You can hear the owls in the bird sanctuary surrounding the light station if you go outside at after dark. We were told that some nights you can drop in on the Department of the Interior wildlife station across the parking lot to watch them catch and band owls. We were worn out from our drive and didn't see any lights on (it was a Sunday evening) so didn't check that out. The museum itself is very well put together with striking historical anecdotes from a whole host of ship siblings on the Great Lakes as well as exhibits showcasing the life of a lighthouse keeper. Definitely worth the trip. Be sure to bring bug spray in warm/cool weather though, because the mosquitoes are remarkably persistent! read more

I have been a fan of Great Lakes Shipwreck history for many years now. I learned about this museum from reading books by Wes Oleszewski (sp?) and have been wanting to go for years. This fall, I got the chance and my husband and I drove up here after staying in Mackinaw City for the night. The admission was a little steep and this museum is quite out of the way of anything but it was worth every penny and every mile that we drove. The main museum building has artifacts and information about several significant historic shipwrecks off Whitefish Point as well as the bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald. There is so much to see at this museum and it is well run. Please come and see it, it is worth the drive. I found it to be much more interesting than the Falls down the road which had more traffic. If you are into Great Lakes history or shipwrecks, this should be one of the must sees on your list! read more

The shipwreck museum, though pricey, is cool. By itself, four stars. A shipwreck diver talked to my boyfriend and I last time we visited and it was a neat experience. All money goes towards uncovering more shipwrecks, so that's cool. My main review is regarding the giftshop. Oh my god, this is literally THE BEST FUDGE I have ever tasted. If you get the fruit flavors (including sherbet), it is just amazing! I would have given this a five star just based on the fudge, but here's the rub: The people that work at the gift shop (specifically the older woman) are HORRIBLE. She is nasty and condescending and will not give out samples (she had pre-cut chocolate samples but wouldn't let us try to the pieces we actually wanted, because that would make too much sense). I would have purchased several more pieces of fudge if we hadn't gotten the stink-eye walking in. This giftshop has literally the best fudge in all of the UP. The orange cream, blueberry, sherbet, and raspberry cream fudge are all amazing and unique. Just make sure you're willing to put up with sub-par customer service. read more

This place is fantastic! It's so well done and in a beautiful setting. You can easily spend 2 plus hours here. Add on the tower climb, amazing views! Just make sure you wear proper shoes, no sandals allowed for the climb as the stairs are small and very steep. read more

While I found much of interest here, it is not totally handicapped accessible. I found no place on the GLSM website to comment about lack of accessibility, or any other comment. read more

I visited the Shipwreck Museum with my husband and two 15-year-old boys in July, 2013. I have to say, it was worth every penny of the admission. We had glorious weather, the docents were knowledgeable, friendly & welcoming, & even my fellow visitors were up for a nice chat (I met a lovely retired couple from Tennessee, & a woman who went to high school with my sister!). The main museum gallery is very well executed, with just enough informational panels to edify without bogging the visitor down. If you want further discussion, there are docents In the gallery who are happy to talk about all things shipwreck. Don't skip the out-buildings, especially the one containing the "surf boat" (a faithful reproduction of a boat used for rescuing crews during a shipwreck). The extra few dollars to climb to the top of the lighthouse was also $ well spent. The docent was chatty & offered to take each party's photo at the top. A lot of steps (this 52-year-old could do it), but the view from the top with sapphire lake & passing freighters - breath-taking. Avoid disappoint: You must pre-purchase lighthouse tower admission & get on the schedule at the Museum ticket office, as only 8 visitors are allowed up at a time. Tours start on the hour & half-hour; plan on 20 minutes total (although out docent encouraged us to stay as long as we wished). Finally, the beautiful (& free) beach offered terrific scenery (bring your camera!) & more skipping stones you could ever imagine. All our arms were sore the next morning! I feel like a disloyal Michigander recommending Whitefish Point over our beloved Tahquamenon Falls, but if it's either/or on your itinerary, I'd definitely choose Whitefish Point, and allow enough time to really explore the place. read more

The museum has some really cool artifacts. It is small but the items are huge For example the bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald and an old light from a lighthouse. We took the lighthouse tower tour and it was really cool to lookout at everything. I typically don't like to climb skinny spiral stairs and quite frankly don't care for heights, But none of that bothered me here. The climb is not long and it really isn't too high so I was OK with it. I am also glad I did it. We walked to the lake shore and gathered some pretty rocks. Nice beach too! If you have a chance to go here I would highly recommend it. read more

The museum itself is ok, parts of it just ok and parts of it sad. There is so much history in this area you have to check it out! The BEST part for me was just walking down on Lake Superior...so dark and cold and deep...really kind of sends a shiver down your spine...a MUST! I think it's $12 per person for the museum, eh, not sure it's worth it. BUT do drive up here so you can walk a long the beach. read more

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum - Museums Near Me - Paradise, Michigan

Very interesting museum with several buildings to view. Very much enjoyed the lighthouse keeper's home. Very well done. The museum itself is very well laid out and contains a wealth of interesting information on shipwrecks off Whitefish Point. Interesting video on wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Great stop. read more

A little pricey for the small size of the museum BUT it's a beautifully done display of UP maritime history. read more

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum - Dive suit at shipwreck museum... Just so happened to belong to and donated by my great uncle - Museums Near Me - Paradise, Michigan

Very cool little museum but I think they charge more than it's worth. It's one room with information on several different shipwrecks that have occurred along with some artifacts. It has a light from a lighthouse at the center and the bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald. It also has information on that shipwreck, which was very cool. Worth seeing once but once is enough. read more

Yep; if you're a history geek like me and love to learn something other than what Jay-Zee and Beyonce are doing, then this place is for you! The museum contains lots of artifacts from various shipwrecks over the years including the Edmund Fitzgerald. It's a privately funded facility (yay private funding!) and admission fees help to sustain and improve the place. Yeah it's off the beaten path and yeah there isn't a Wal-Mart anywhere close, but isn't that the point?? Get out there people, see something unusual, and learn some history! BTW... who knew northern Michigan had so many mosquitos and biting flies! DO NOT go without a good bathing of Deep Woods OFF! read more