Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center

About Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center

Explore the shipwrecks lying in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, featuring exciting exhibits for all ages. Walk the decks of a wooden Great Lakes schooner replica, feel a Great Lakes storm, and touch the massive timbers of the boat resting on the lake bottom. All without getting wet! This visitor center provides a range of accessibility features for every visitor to enjoy the exhibits. Visitors can download the Shipwreck Alley Tours app, which presents an audio tour of the exhibits and a written narration of the shipwreck tour. This app also provides sensory friendly assistance. Visit our website to learn more information specifically about wheelchair mobility, service animals, sight and hearing impaired assistance, and sensory friendly assistance.

How to Get There

Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center can be found in the historic downtown Alpena, Michigan along the Thunder Bay River.

Plan Your Visit to Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center

Heading to Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)