great lakes maritime heritage center

The Maritime Heritage Center is a world class museum that houses not only artifacts of the shipwrecks of Thunder Bay but is an extraordinary family experience. There is a full scale replica of a ship that lets you explore in an interactive way. There are scale models of many of the shipwrecks. Two floors of exhibits show art works and the history of the Bay and the region. Science on the Sphere is an amazing exhibit that allows visitors to see a number of different documentaries on a revolving globe that fills a room - with seating all around. People come from all over the world to see this wonderful Heritage Center. There is something for everyone - from the history buff to my 3 year old grandson who just loves going onto the ship and then sliding down the shoot-slide to exit. Allow a couple of hours for a family fun day out. It's free...

We visited this Museum while waiting for the Glass Bottom Boat tour. Everyone there was so friendly and docents helped to keep everyone informed. We enjoyed the wonderful exhibits and would recommend this museum to everyone. It was very clean and well maintained. It also has a very nice gift shop.

It was very interesting to do the tour (Free)!! Going onto the ship makes you actually feel like it's in the water! Great job designing and building it!!! Rooftop garden is really pretty and interesting to learn about, I wish I could have one!!! All the shipwrecks and history was interesting to read, what a hard life it was back then!!! So glad I'm living in today's modern world and only have to read the stories. So tragic but good to learn about our history. A definite stop for couples and families. There is a nice pathway for walking and viewing the gardens and ??, it was a tad too chilly for us Floridians to venture too far, next time we'll go in Summer and do the entire walk, looking forward to our next visit!!!

Learn about the Great Lakes via numerous displays, videos and hands on activities. The docents are friendly. The place is beautifully taken care of. And it's free!

This place has so many interesting exhibits - fun for adults & kids alike. There is something for everyone. The science sphere is just amazing, as well as experiencing a storm on a large ship. Great gift shop also. Very educational!

This is a GREAT museum explaining the Great Lakes Shipping Industry and all the shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay area. Lots of hands-on experiences for children and very informative explaining how the Great Lakes is essential for carrying cargo across the top of the US. Very interesting about all the shipwrecks and how they accrued in the Thunder Bay area.Would highly recommend this to anyone in the area. Very well done!!!

Very nice facility and fun for everyone. They really have set up nice displays and activities the children really enjoy.

Very much enjoyed the visit here. Glass bottom boat tour was great and the narrator was very good. He was able to answer questions & seemed very knowledgable. Exhibits inside were also very interesting. Would tour this place again. There is a cost for the glass bottom boat tour but not the Maritime Center itself.

Lots of artifacts from shipwrecks. Our grandson loved the slide and we all like the replica of a listing ship that you could walk on. And it was free! We took the shipwreck boat tour too and that was great!

Nice maritime museum. Great for kids! Free admission. Enjoyed seeing the flagship Niagra. Did not go aboard however. Nice walk along the shore there also.

Great exhibits, interesting history and hands on activities for the younger set. It's a go to favorite especially on wet weather days.

From the full size schooner to the ship in the storm - the maritime center is a fantastic destination full of history. Bravo to NOAA for investing in the preservation of the Great Lakes shipwrecks' . Nice to be able to take home a book to remember the visit by.

Free admission, your tax dollars at work. Interactive displays, fun for all ages. Take the shipwreck tour for a real lesson,

Very nice collection of shipwreck stories, remnants, pics and theater.A schooner has been recreated indoors and a simulated storm reoccurs I think every hour.Walking through the ship in the storm really gives the creepy feel the sailor's must have experienced through the years. They also have a nice little gift ship. The museum has a science lab, access to the river, a walking trail and a ship that will take you out onto the Thunder Bay to view the underwater shipwrecks. The museum is free but the boat ride cost extra. Really a nice experience and a great addition to Alpena,