National Museum of the Great Lakes Reviews

Located on the banks of the Maumee River, just a mile from downtown, on the left side of the river. Small museum, interesting exhibtion pieces. Some outdoor.
Showpiece is the very long Lake freighter, the 1911 SS Col. James Schoonmaker. Is moored adjacent to the museum.
Worth a visit

A must do in Toledo. Very educational and fun. It is great at any season. You can do just the museum when the weather is bad and come back when the Schoonmaker and the tug are open. The educational lectures and programs are worth your time, also.

What a great place! The tour of the Laker was fantastic! Self-guided was the way to go, spend as much time in the places that interest you as you wish. The guy working there was super informative and super friendly. We wish we got his name, sorry Dude, but he was awesome!
The museum was also very interesting though a couple of displays weren't working as well as they could.
This place is a hidden gem.

Very educational. I don't know how many times I caught myself saying, "Well, huh!" We did both the ship and the museum, and both were good in their own right. For people who have never lived near water of any sort, this was a neat museum to visit. If you like learning, you'll like the Nat'l Museum of the Great Lakes.

This is a new, relatively small museum, but it has some great items on display, including artifacts from the Edmund Fitzgerald. In addition, be sure to tour the museum ship on site (a Great Lakes freighter). A must-see if you are in the area.

My wife and I toured the National Museum of the Great Lakes along with their museum ships, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker and the tug Ohio, while visiting Toledo recently. I had previously toured the Schoonmaker back in 2004 before the museum building opened and when the ship was known as the Willis B. Boyer, the last name it had when it was an operating Great Lakes freighter that last sailed in 1980. The museum was added in 2012 and the Boyer was rechristened as the Schoonmaker in 2011 on the 100th anniversary of its launching after a major refurbishing project that returned it to its original color scheme from its original owners. All of the facilities are maintained in excellent condition and visitors should plan on a minimum of 2 hours to see everything. The museum building includes a comprehensive look at Great Lakes shipping from the first recorded attempts at navigating the Great Lakes in the 1600s up to the present day. It covers everything from the canoes used in fur trading to the largest ships currently used in the iron ore and coal trades, passenger vessels, advances in shipboard technology, and shipwreck history. A gift shop is on site, and memberships are available that go to support the museum and various programs. While it is a local Toledo attraction, this museum has outreach across the Great Lakes region and offers programs online that attract an audience from across several states and both the U.S. and Canada. It is well done and a must for any "Boatnerd"!

I can't believe I've lived in Toledo all these years and never went,,until recently. I thought we'd go, spend about an hour, and get through. Wrong. There is so much to look at, you can easily spend hours there. Great displays and lots of history. Touring the freighter should definitely be on your list if you to to the museum. Well worth the admission fee.

The museum includes interactive exhibits , media, and artifacts.
The Schoonmaker tour is not to be missed. However, note that the boat is not handicap accessible.

This musuem covers history, storms and shipwrecks, how ship designs have changed, the canals that allowed the use of bigger ship, and transport economics related to steel and related industries and to grain. Besides adults, there's stuff there that would interest kids from about the age of 10. Allow an hour.

The ticket also gives access to a retired Great Lakes ship - holds, engine room, bridge etc.

Great little museum with lots of artifacts from ships, a lot of interesting facts about the history of ships, and some hands on activities. The museum itself will take about 40 min to walk through. They also have a giant ship that is open to tour starting may 1st. We will be back just to tour the ship once it opens.

The museum has free parking. There are 2 options for admission--museum only or, for an additional fee, walk on the pier and visit the ships. This museum is a wonderful history of shipping and commerce on the Great Lakes. There are many artifacts, photographs, information boards, maps, and videos. There is even a section about the Great Lakes as a habitat.. Some of the exhibits are hands on. There is a gift shop. COVID-19: Employees were masked and visitors were expected to remain masked and maintain social distancing protocols during their stays.

It's amazing how much is packed into this compact museum. Beginning with a well-done video overview of the Great Lakes, exhibits include shipwrecks and safety, safeguard and support, the development of industry, exploration and settlement, passenger travel, and maritime technology. If you're the kind of museum visitor who likes to read all or most of the exhibit details, 3 or 4 hours may not be long enough. Even if you're not, the exhibits are very well done and even browsing through or focusing on a couple of topics could be quite interesting. There are a number of creative interactive exhibit elements. The day we visited, several were off-line; unfortunately, I waited until we were on the way out to report that -- only to learn that a staff member could probably have reset at least two of the interactive exhibits for me. [So, if something's not working, find your way back to the reception desk and let them know.] There's an admission charge, but it's very reasonable.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the National Museum of the Great Lakes. The James M. Schoonmaker ship was awesome. It’s definitely a must to see. The museum was very informative about the history and facts of the Great Lakes, and how important it has been to the growth of our nation. We all give it a thumbs up.

Here you can learn about the geology of how the lakes were carved out by ancient glaciers and how they influenced the history of America and Canada. You can walk the decks of the ore freighter James M Schoonmaker, one of the largest of its kind to sail the lakes. Download a free app and hear all about the ship on your phone as you visit every corner of the ship - excellent production of this audio-visual media. We ran into one of the staff members who experienced the working years of this fine old ship. His stories made my day.

On our tour of four of the five great lakes, we stopped at the National Museum of the Great Lakes. Our large family looks for cool things to do, but also family friendly and budget friendly. We ended up buying a year membership cheaper than visiting one day. Pretty typical for our family of 7. The museum was cool, things for the kids to do and the ship we toured was HUGE. I know it is not the biggest any more, but at one time, it was the largest on the lakes. I was not a huge fan of the walk to get on the ship and it was raining a little, but a nice tour to say the least.

Well Done Museum of the Great Lakes (All 5). There is plenty of parking with a short walk to the entrance. There is a fee to enter but it is worth it - we only did the museum portion. There are really nice exhibits through the whole museum. There are video stations that you can choose to watch as you go through each section. There are plenty of interactive displays for each type of Lake experiences. It was a very good representation of life on the lakes past and present. Nice stop.

It's nice to go see the engine room. You can see all the machinery that was used to power this ship - they also play a video of the engines running inside the room. You get to have a close look at the engineers' cabins, pantry, officers' dining room, the deck etc. There's also a stairway to go to the goods hold which is 1 of the 3 that are on the ship. You can 2-3 hours here.

Another gem in the middle of industrial city. This museum and ship monument is outstanding! The lake Freighter (cira 1911) is beautiful! The museum next to the ship is well laid out and very interesting, great history. The ship is incredibly well preserved and was a working vessel until the 80s! the staff are great and informative knowing their stuff. The bridge and crew quarters alone are a wonderful step back into time! Not to mention those that are gear heads , the engine room. May be a bit much for not so agile folks getting to the bridge, but most is accsesible. Take your time on this one! Also great parking and senior discounts.
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Absolutely loved every aspect of this museum. We really enjoy anything maritime-related, so we’ve visited ships and maritime museums around the country (as well as other countries) - but this was a special treat and unexpectedly well-done in a small city like Toledo. We’ve never been to Toledo but were looking for someplace drivable from the Chicago suburbs for weekend getaway and seeing that they had a maritime museum and a good-quality art museum, we decided to head to Toledo. We were at this museum for almost 5 hours! That may be a record for us. We spent 3+ hours in the museum itself, then headed out to the two ships. We saw the small one first, then headed to the Schoonmaker. It was HUGE! Everything is well-labeled with signage and explanations that draw you in and help you understand what life and operations on a ship like that would be - from captain/crew quarters, galley, fancy guest/VIP areas, the massive storage areas for the iron ore, engine areas, etc . There is definitely some climbing up/down steep ladder-like staircases and ramps involved. I wouldn’t miss the ship - how often do you get to experience a ship over 3x the size of a football field?? After the ship, we went back inside to use the bathroom and check out the gift shop. And ended up finding exhibit areas that somehow we’d managed to miss during our first time through - so we spent more time looking! The exhibits cover so many different aspects. Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes, the evolution of ship building, the history of the Great Lakes and the important role they play, the role they’ve played in wartime, the evolution of aspects of ships like safety features, communication, navigation, loading/unloading, etc. Lighthouses and the history of shipwreck rescuers. So much more than I can remember! And the employees were really helpful, not just answering questions about the museum but also helping us with advice with dining, etc in the greater area. We have gone to all kinds of museums all over the world - the USA, UK, Italy, Norway, France - and this gem in Toledo will always be one of our favorites!

What a great experience! This place is great if you any interest in ships or history. A bunch of interactive things that are simple and short enough to inform and keep you attention. The historical value is what I liked best. Little kids maybe under 10 won't want to stop and read the info graphics. I was able to ease through and stroll without a crowd, was nice! The young lady at the entrance was super nice and helped me find a few restaurants in Toledo. It's located by itself by the river so nothing is in walking distance for food. Would be an excellent place to pack a lunch and eat next to the river in nice weather!

The museum is compact with lots of artifacts and info about all things Great Lakes. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful.

This place was staffed by a very friendly professional who answered all of our questions, gave a good explanation of the museum layout, and gave us extra souvenirs (stickers and make-your-own-boat). Besides the friendliness and professionalism of the staff, there was something for everyone to learn and experience about the significance of the Great Lakes. There were hands on activities, things to read, a movie, and a fun old timey photo booth. Everyone in my family has a different learning style, and we all came away with something. The souvenirs were also very cool and unique—I got a propeller Christmas ornament!

Of course, we will be back—we still have the historic ship to explore (it’s closed for the winter) and a trail. I would highly recommend this unique museum for anyone who wants to learn a little geology, Native American history, U.S. history, or the physics of lighthouses.

Very well put together museum. Informative and entertaining. Learned a lot! I enjoyed the museum more than the boat, but be sure and do both!

A truly outstanding museum of Great Lakes history and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Be sure to allow time to tour the ship that is on site an spend adequate time in the museum itself.

This museum is worth a visit. Lots of information about the history of the Great Lakes. Wonderful exhibits, imcluding a film and many audio displays. The extra cost for the tour of the Schoonmaker, the adjacent ship, is worth every penny and the highlight of my experience. Very professionally done museum, clean and new.

The museum was a small building that housed some information but wasn't to interesting. The tour of the cargo ship was okay but boring. If there was someone to talk with and get some information that would have been better. The self guide was uninteresting .

We enjoyed viewing a ship that traveled the Great Lakes. You can download the app and listen to all the points of interest of the ship at your own pace. There is also a building with a movie and museum with your ticket.

Spent the better part of almost 4 hours in the museum and on the Col. James M. Schoonmaker, the Great Lakes freighter that's part of the museum. It covers the nature, the history, the safety and of course the wrecks. The museum displays are well laid out, well explained, cater to kids and adults, and it's done logically. It also doesn't become the Edmund Fitzgerald Museum, which would have been easy to do. The museum really introduced me to things I didn't know about the Great Lakes and packs a nice punch for someplace so small.

The Schoonmaker is interesting but like most shipboard museums, they can only utilize a small percentage of the space. Assuming it's a work in progress and one day they'll raise enough funds to have interactive displays and get beyond the static nature of what's there now.

Excellent displays and interactive history opportunities. Easy to get to, great parking, and overall a nice facility. The freighter tour is awesome!

So to be honest I was not looking forward to going on this ship, however, after reading all of the reviews on Trip Advisor I decided to give it a try. I was actually very impressed at the experience. I was very glad that it was a self-guided tour because I got very spooked when my husband and I went into the cargo deck. I got the feeling that I was being watched by something. I started to feel sick and was getting dizzy. I had to get out of their immediately. He stayed and looked around. My legs were shaking and I went outside to the upper deck until he was finished. Makes me wonder if there are any spirits still aboard this old ship. After that experience everything else was wonderful and fun. I loved seeing where they slept and being able to see all of the instruments that they used to steer the ship on the waters. I only wish that my grandson was with us because he would have loved it. The package also comes with the museum and a tour of the tug boat.

If you are in the area, you should really make the time to go to this wonderful museum. There's lots of info packed into a small/moderate sized space. It was also really fun to tour the boats and understand how massive they are and see all the inner workings.

The museum itself was interesting (in particular the histories of shipwrecks, and general information on how transport changed on the lakes over time (passenger and commerce), but for me the real highlight was the freighter self guided tour. Probably something you could take kids to as well - enough to hold their interest.

The National Museum of the Great Lakes is exceptionally well laid out, suitable for all ages to enjoy. They have a wonderful mix of artifacts of all types, interactive displays and well thought out information boards.Many museums have a crunched feel or lack the type of interactive buttons to push, etc.... that will suitably entertain little ones. This museum shines at presenting the history of the Great Lakes, the people who relied on it and it's overall importance to our nation's history. Obviously, located on water, there is a nice stretch of land around the museum to let children run off some steam. The ship Col. James Schoonmaker, can be toured. The museum currently charges $11 for the museum only or $15 including the ship, which I highly recommend. This ship was the largest of its kind on the Great Lakes for a couple of years after it's launch in 1911. Folks that are mobility challenged may need to skip the boat tour. Likewise, I wouldn't much enjoy lugging a baby or toddler on the boat. The museum itself wouldn't be a problem for the mobility challenged. The museum has a very nice gift shop.

We had no idea how vast the Great Lake are! They hold 21% of the fresh water in the world. Great displays and short videos.

The museum had interesting information and artifacts. There were a number of interactive exhibits which my 2 and 3 year old enjoyed. Pay a bit extra to see the ship. It was cool to see. Just a little scary if you don't like tight spaces or heights.

We truly enjoyed our visit at this museum. The history of the Great Lakes is something everyone should read. The museum provided this information in an interactive and interesting format! We would definitely plan a return visit. You can visit just the museum or for just a few dollars more your tour can include the freighter. Definitely spend the few extra dollars and include the freighter!

I am a lifelong Michigander and avid traveler, so the treasure known as the Great Lakes right in my back yard is not lost on me. Needing to spend a night in Toledo after a trip to Cedar Point, and looking for something to do, I figured this would be a good choice. I knew I would like it, but it so exceeded my expectations. It is a small but amazing little museum.

I was accompanied by four teens who were easily immersed for a couple hours. If it were just me I could have spent another hour or two reading and exploring all of the exhibits in more detail. The tour of the Schoonmaker freighter I found especially interesting. I have always had a curiosity about maritime industry and touring the ship brought it to life living about a ship.

If you are passing through the area this is definitely a stop worth making, and really, it's worth a special trip of it's own if you are not too far away. Go!

We traveled to Toledo to visit this museum and very impressed by the exhibits and the excellent descriptions provided. They have quite a few interactive exhibits and interesting displays for children. It takes about 1-1 1/2 hours to see it all but more if you opt for the tour of the bulk freighter.

I visited this museum with my wife and two daughters, ages 7 + 10 in March of 2016. I have to say, that of the 15 or so marine/naval museums I have been to in the area of the Great Lakes, this is the very best of them all. I was amazed at some of the artifacts. I had no idea that they had so much from Edmund Fitzgerald. But also the detail of the exhibits and the overall scope of the collection was magnificent. Admittedly, I am a marine fan - it is a hobby, and my full time job is related to it to. So I have a good sense for what is lacking in a museum of this kind. Well, there is nothing lacking here. My daughters were enthralled for almost 3 hours - that is saying something! From how ships are loaded, to a working model of a marine triple expansion reciprocal steam engine, to the coded blinks of light houses from the collection of model ships - this museum has it all.

If I had one criticism, it would be that there was no staff walking around. Two people stayed up at the cash, and I saw a couple staff members walk in and out of the doors leading to the offices, but no one ever approached me to see if there were any questions. There had to be about 4-5 people working there, and only 9 guests. I think they should make an effort to be a little more engaged with the guests.

As a Canadian, I was pleased to see Canada was not totally ignored and was mentioned extensively in exhibits and in the video that you watch before entering the museum.

Unfortunately, the 617 foot laker, Col. James M. Schoonmaker, was not open. They mothball her during the winter months. She is an impressive vessel though and I am excited to return here in the summer and walk her decks.

I cannot recommend this museum more highly!!

Well worth the trip. Having spent many years on the St Lawrence river, passing these monsters, it was extremely cool to be able to finally tour one up close. Excellent exhibit, wondrous interactive experiences in the main Museum. Excellent place to bring the kiddos for a visit. Certainly helps one appreciate the magnitude f these ships.

The staff was excellent and well informed.

We happened to meet a man who actually served on board many years ago who was visiting. Had some very interesting stories.

Well done in deed.

The museum was well organized. It presented a clear picture of the shipping on the Great Lakes. There were interactive displays that taught several principles of the Great Lakes. We also toured the long boat a cargo vessel. It is well preserved and informative. Well worth the time and cost.

Great collection of lake history items and interactive displays. My favorites were the submersible diving "video game" and the coal unloading! A good way to get an introduction to many of the historical aspects of our local lakes history, and a good jumping off point for further personal reading or exploration. The extra $5 for the Schoonmaker is well worth the trip all by itself! A caution to those going on the vessel who may be older and have knee or join issues-there are steep stairs, and lots of challenging obstacles. Not sure if there was a tour option for the Schoonmaker. While it was fun to be self-guided, we would have appreciated a tour-guide for more depth.

This is a self guided tour with audio and video presentations at various locations. Actual artifacts from the past including items retrieved from the lake floor. You tour at your own pace. Photography is allowed. There were tours from several schools there at the same time as we were there, but it did not cause any problems with traffic flow or crowding. I found itm quite informatiave and interesting.

I stopped by the museum after a conference in Detroit, knowing that both the museum and Schoonmaker had been recently (in the past few years) renovated. The Schoonmaker is one of the best preserved museum ships I've visited, with an easy to navigate tour route and good information along the way. The guides stationed on the ship were also friendly and informative, and it was nice to stay out of the rain and chat with them. The museum itself was clearly new and well put together. My only complaint was that the circular layout of the exhibits made it hard to determine where to start and where to go next. Otherwise, it was a good blend of information, interesting artifacts, and fun interactive displays (not just for kids!).

We toured on a cold windy day so we did not tour (but the group we were with do and they said it was very interesting but some very tight doors and bulkheads to set over) the actual Great Lakes Freighter but we took more than an hour looking at the exhibits, most had some hands-on. We could have taken longer but had to get back to the convention. I have for many years summered on Lake Michigan and seen the ship from a distance with a few seen closer up when on the light piers as the ship came into the harbor. Very interesting. There was a 3d model of the Edmond Fitzgerald resting place, the freighter that went down in Lake Superior

Had a free day in a hockey trip and decided to take a look here.
The lakes and shipping has always interested me so my son and I went.
Was amazed at everything they had in the museum with so many really interesting facts.
Even my teenage son was impressed.
The presentation video was really fact filled,lights and sound also included.
Ship was closed,don't open till noon but we did walk down the trail and looked at the ship and old anchors along the trail.
Very much recommended for all.

We stumbled across this museum while driving through Toledo. The museum was really informative and had some interesting pieces of history. My son enjoyed touring the boats. It was a good afternoon

The ship was a must see and the museum was just great as to all the thing the great lakes have to offer

Spent first 45 minutes in the museum learning about the Great Lakes. Way more to se in the museum than we looked at and could spend a couple hours at least in there, but I was in a hurry to see the insides of the Col. James M Schoonmaker, the freighter. I have been on another boat in Sault St. Marie, the Valley Camp, and now find that it was truly lacking. So much more of this boat was open for viewing. Everyone will have something to look at and wish they could be aboard out on the lakes. This ship was retired much later than the Valley Camp. If you go for nothing else in Toledo, you need to do this.

I spent nearly two hours going through this museum which does a very good job of covering various aspects of commercial traffic on the Great Lakes: ship building, propulsion, Coast Guard, wrecks. And it’s all well presented with clear, understandable displays. Kudos to the people who put this museum together. I’m sorry the freighter wasn’t open (closed until May).

We visited the museum and toured the Schoonmaker with our three young kids (5 and under). The opening video in the museum provided an excellent overview of the history of the Great Lakes. The exhibits were interactive and informative. Our kids all loved the hands-on components of the museum including loading coal into the "boiler" and exploring how cargo was loaded/ unloaded onto the boats.
The Schoomaker was an impressive addition to the museum. We loved viewing all the living quarters and mechanical rooms. It was a wonderful experience for adults and kids alike.

I assume the museum is where it is because of the location of the docked boat on the Maumee River. It's sort of in the boonies on the other side of the river from downtown. Nonetheless, the exhibits give a lot of information about the human history of the Great Lakes and is very densely exhibited. Plenty of stuff for the kids, do be aware this is NOT a nature museum at all. But certainly make sure to stop by.

We had a great time while here. The kids loves it. It was the highlight of their vacation. They still talk about it.

Stopped in on our way home from Henry Ford museum... What a great place to visit ! Although this s museum is small it is very informative and look ts of hands on interactive displays. Kids will enjoy the coal bin area and for adults and older children, the diving display to see the Edmund Fitzgerald remains is really interesting. The ship self guided tour was a treat! To see some of the original areas such as the captains/owner's living quarters was special. Unfortunately the ship is not handicap accessible. Definitely worth stopping for a visit. We took our time and spent about 2 hours between the museum and ship.

We stopped by the museum while at the beginning of a road trip to see four of the five Great Lakes. What a great way to start our trip! The museum had a wonderful video which caught the kids' attention and many historical artifacts along with details about the importance of the Great Lakes in history. We learned so many things- for example, I had no idea they practiced landing aircraft on carriers during World War II there...There were some artifacts from the Edmund Fitzgerald and many interactive activities for the children (ages 9 and 7). We probably spent about 2 hours in the building and never got to tour the ship. We would definitely recommend going!

Great family place! Educational for kids and adults. Interactive, hands on displays. The ship itself is historical and interesting. Check for events, they have fun and interesting events and classes often. Nice little gift shop on site.

If you have even the slightest interest in learning about the great story of shipping, industrial revolution, and the role the lakes provided for effective transportation, this is a story you want to see while in Toledo.

Staff on the ship is wonderful and very versed in answering questions. Be sure to ask even the most basic question, as they will make the answer come alive.

There are uneven surfaces on the deck of the ship. Watch your step. Long gangway to get unto the ship deck. Ramp, not steps. Great view of the Toledo waterfront.

Asking these questions will get the shipmates started on their great info.

What was the cargo of the ship?

How was the ship powered?

What was the sister ship?

How thick is the hull?

How long was the trip from port to port?

How many tons of cargo could she haul?

That's just a starter. Enjoy

Museum area small but filled with many artifacts of old ships and many of the stories about the ones that sunk. Not enough story of the successes of current commerce on the lakes. Touring the freighter docked there a scary experience - very steep gangway to navigate up to the ship and no one on board to explain anything, and most movements around the very close edge by the water. Tugboat was really nothing to see.

Many interactive exhibits for children. Many historical and interesting exhibits on life on the Great Lakes. Good place for all ages.

Really interesting museum with the history, culture, economics of the Great Lakes. Hands on activities for kids. The n shop was not open yet, but that would have been great to experience. We recommend a visit

This is an amazing, hands-on museum that has something interesting for each member of your family. There are many exhibits for children aged 3 and up that allow them to touch everything. My youngest loved loading the coal into the barges and looking through the diving masks at the various shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. The exhibits are very interesting and educational. My oldest was very interested in the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. There is also an outdoor ship that you can tour. Be advised that if you have any mobility issues or are afraid of heights that you may not want to tour the ship. It is very high and you have to be able to climb the steep ramp to get to the ship. There are also many stairways that are narrow and could be difficult to navigate if you have balance or mobility problems. If you have children under the age of 3, I would not advise taking them on the ship. We were completely amazed by the ship and had a great time. This is a very worthwhile stop in Toledo.

You have to see it for yourself...along with the Glass City Metropark it is one-of-a-kind! I can not believe that a field of 100 words are required!

The new inland seas museum is wonderful, unfortunately we spent so much time on the ship we didn't have enough time in the museum! We are definitely going back again

This is a brand new museum opened near downtown Toledo in 2014. Although not huge, it is very well thought out and covers about every aspect that one might imagine of great lakes nautical history: commercial shipping, passenger traffic, navy and coast guard, shipbuilding, lighthouses, nature, etc. For each topic there are informative displays, some interactive, and a nice selection of artifacts. Of course, no great lakes maritime museum would be complete without its very own great lakes freighter, and this museum hits a homerun with the Col. James M. Schoonmaker, launched in 1911 and for many years the largest ship on the lakes (by one measure or another). Visitors can climb aboard and take a self-guided (with docents here and there to answer questions) from bow to stern, from pilothouse to engine room. The museum is so new, a few displays are placeholders with signs saying such and such (mainly ship models) will be here shortly, but this doesn't detract too much. However, one wonders how the museum will grow in the future as the great lakes is a tremendous topic with many, many more stories to tell - it will be interesting to come back in a decade or so and see if the museum builds on this tremendous start, but even today, an enjoyable couple of hours can be spent here learning about the maritime history of the greatest lakes of them all.

Not a bad museum, but it seemed a bit disorganized... not sure why it wasn't organized by lake. Also didn't seem right to charge for the ship tour over and above the museum... especially as the sign outside says it is included in museum entry price :(

We were interested in the museum (not the ships for an extra $6). The exhibits were very well done and the signage readable.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed spending the day at this quality maritime museum. Information is presented in a very user-friendly way for all levels of interest and the organization of the different topics was very well planned. There are some very high quality artifacts here and touring the ship is a must.

This is a must stop as there is so much Great Lakes history and artifacts to see.The freighter is also a must as one rarely sees the inside of one that is as it was when it sailed.The engine rooms small and look as if it could be fired up and used.I am not sure if a wheelchair could manage on the ship.

Great detailed information on the great lakes. Self-guided tour on the ship, it was huge. You also can tour a tug boat.
Great for adults

This is a real gem. Well organized, very interactive and informative. We stopped by as an afterthought and stayed for hours. Two hours is about enough to see everything. Add another hour if you are like me and listen to everything.
The staff are wonderful and very knowledgeable. Don't miss this great museum

Compact museum but packed with interesting exhibits - many interactive for children. an augmented membership offers the opportunity to tour two boats. There was a man wandering around offering a tour but I'd already finished up but he did get two other people. This could've been more organized and clearer.

Absolutely worth the visit. Gave us great insight into the history of the lakes and also some of the geography of the region. The museum ship was a highlight for me, loved it!!

Growing up in Michigan, I have a great appreciation for the Great Lakes and thought I knew a lot about them. This museum taught me so much more. Both the indoor exhibits and outdoor tour of the Schoonmaker cargo ship were interesting, informative and fascinating.

This museum is wonderful. It seems larger inside than it does on the outside. It can handle quite a few people at a time due to its multiple areas of exhibits and the fact that you don’t need to go in any one direction. We spent over 1 1/2 hours inside, reading the signs, looking at exhibits, and watching the opening video. There are hands-on exhibits throughout as well. We learned so much history and good information.

Outside you can also pay for a self-guided tour of the large ship docked on site “Col. James M Schoonmaker”. This is well worth the money to be able to come aboard this ship that was built in 1911, see the craftsmanship of the ship builder, see how the captain and crew lived on the ship, see the boiler rooms and the engines, see the cargo holds, and see the navigation room.

I suggest allowing 2 1/2- 3 hours for the total experience.

Our group had 7 year olds to 68 years old. All had a GREAT TIME. Thought we would be here 90 minutes at most.... Between the museum and self guided boat tour we were here over 3 hours and the time flew by... No complaints from anyone.. We drove an hour to get here and it was worth coming. We all agreed it was a "10" visit. Highly recommend..

As people with a landlocked perspective, we found this visit truly amazing. Moving around the freighter and tugboat outside, exploring the well done exhibits in the museum itself and watching the videos brings a whole new perspective to the Great Lakes. Highly recommend the accessibility to the ships outside and onboard volunteers. Don’t miss this treat right on the river.

Both the museum and the ship are fascinating and must be seen together. Do not miss either. The displays and artifacts in the museum are excellent and also kid-friendly. The volunteers on the ship are knowledgeable and eager to answer questions. It is very easy to get there and there is ample parking.

The museum was fun and had some really interesting hands-on exhibits, including a diving simulation to explore the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. But touring the freighter, Col. James M Schoonmaker was an incredible experience. The boat has been equipped so that visitors can go into the engine room, the crew quarters, the hold, the incredibly beautiful captain's and guest accommodations in the bow. The museum volunteer, Dave, was full of information and stories and made our visit extra special. The tug Ohio, only available by tour, is an amazing restoration in progress. This is a unique museum honoring and working toward preservation of our beautiful Great Lakes.

My husband and I went to the museum which is easy to find in Toledo for the day. We first did the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Ship. We spent 2 hours exploring the ship which was very interesting. We downloaded the phone app which guided us through the ship tour with ease. We enjoyed so much that we purchased a museum membership. We then went into the museum. There was so much useful and informative information that we were glad we had gotten the membership so that we can return whenever we want. We are anxiously waiting the opening of the Tug. We highly recommend this museum for people of any age!

Great Wok has wonderful tasting and fresh food. We found it to have most of the usual choices for a Chinese restaurant, but what I really like was the more authentic choices like Shrimp Mei Fun, super fresh with crisp vegetables, super crispy egg roll and nicely overstuffed steamed dumplings. My son had the Singapore Fried Rice Noodle (med. heat) it had great flavor and a nice kick of heat. I think next time I will be trying one of the Udon Noodle bowls.
A plus for people like my wife is the great selection of vegetable only dishes.
Prices are right in line for dinners and their lunch specials prices look really good.
They are open 7 days a week. The servers are great and friendly. The only small issue I can see would be the some what limited table seating maybe 8 to 10 tables. We will be going back very soon!

There are a number of maritime museums around the Great Lakes, this one was worth a visit if in the area. There are a number of exhibits, well displayed, some interactive (peer underwater, try to find a sunken ship by following the beacons, etc.). I would recommend viewing the film strip which is just to the left of the lobby when you enter. I would plan to spend about an hour in the museum and then another 45 minutes or so on the decommissioned cargo ship, the Col James M. Schoonmaker. You need to walk up a steep ramp to get up to the deck. It is worth it to climb the remaining stairs to see the captain's quarters, pilot house, etc.

I live and work in Toledo and had never visited before. When I did visit the facility I was amazed at how wonderful this museum is. It's a must see for people living in town and those visiting. I talked to several people who had stopped by on their way home because they always enjoy their visit. You won't be disappointed in your visit.

The museum is newer and well laid out so that it is easy to follow and understand all of the permanent and temporary exhibits. There is a plethora of history and vital information provided that raise the interest level of these magnificent bodies of water to all who are uninitiated as to their of their importance to the economy, security, and water supply of the entire United States.

We visited on a Sat afternoon in March. It wasn't super crowded. There were a ton of very informative displays to look at. It is harder for the non reader smaller people because of the reading to understand the displays. However there were plenty of interactive and video displays spread throughout the museum to keep the younger kids interested. I very much enjoyed this museum and we will be going back once the ship tours start in early summer. The 13,11, and 8 year old got the most out of the museum. The 2 and 5 year old got bored the quickest.

We took our grandson last summer, he is 7, and it was a great afternoon. Fun and educational and his favorite experience was to go to the wheel house and “steer” the big boat and blow the horn....

Some of the best displays I have ever seen in a museum. If you like ships you will find this a very interesting place. It takes you from the earliest to the modern day on the lakes. I didn't get to see the ship moored on the dock but I am sure that was interesting also. I would recommend this place if you are interested in the Great Lakes.

What a great asset to Toledo. This is a top notch museum with information on the ships, lakes and ship wrecks over the years. There are a lot of hands on exhibits for all ages. We just went over Christmas break and what a great way to get the kids out of the house and into an activity that they will find fun while they are learning. In the Summer you can tour both the lake freighter and museum. I highly recommend checking this museum out.

There is so much to see and absorb in this excellent museum about the Great Lakes. The signage is wonderful and the explanations are complete and easy to understand. There are many interactive exhibits which keep young visitors interested and absorbed. Our group arrived later than planned and then had to leave for the "next event". Too bad; I missed some of the exhibits in the last room. We toured the Duluth Maritime Museum a few years ago and between the two museums, you can learn so much about the history, geography, and economic impact of shipping on the Great Lakes. I found it all very engaging.

This museum is worth the money and time to learn about our Great Lakes. Many interactive exhibits and artifacts - just enough for a nice afternoon. The tour of the freighter is self-guided, but there are volunteers throughout who are helpful and very interesting to talk to.

We couldn't see the museum but it was kind of expensive for what it offered. The ship on the other hand was massive. We'll see that next time

This is a very interesting museum. They have a cargo ship and tugboat to tour also. We did not have time to look at the boats. The museum is full of information about the lakes and the different ships that have sailed on them.

Stopped here toward the end of a long trip that included stops at many museums. This one is overpriced at $11. (And that didn't even include a tour of the ship which was still closed but costs extra) There are some interesting things in the museum and some interactive displays that kids will like but it isn't very big. I spent about an hour here. There is a short intro video you can watch at the beginning.There were some Edmund Fitzgerald artifacts and lots of info on ship wrecks.

This was a second visit for us to see the Freighter and Museum. This time a docent was on the Vessel that had experience on a ship. First hand information and made the tour very interesting.

I am a museum lover and my husband likes more hands on things to do and this attraction was a good mix. After touring the museum, being able to tour the Freighter was an awesome plus. We had so much fun seeing all the aspects of the ship and the different rooms and holds. It was so nice learning about the Great Lakes!

We spent 2 hours without even realizing it. They have one of the lifeboats from the ill-fated Edmund Fitzgerald and so many stories of the Great Lakes and artifacts from different ships. Very interesting. We plan on going back in June when the ship will be open.

These maritime displays are excellent. There were artifacts, information and an opportunity to purchase a commissioned painting commemorating the 20th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Visitors can view over 500 breathtaking photographs, 250 incredible artifacts, and around 45 interactive exhibits. You must arrive before 3:30 p.m. to walk through the 1911 the iron ore freighter, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker.

We added this stop to our itinerary and we were glad we did. Though there is an Iron Ore Freighter and a tug to see, we didn't have time and I didn't want to do all of the climbing and walking required to do it right. So we just bought a museum ticket $10 discounted, reg is $11. The exhibits in here are wonderful. The museum has sections devoted to the Lakes, exploration, Industry, safety and support and shipwrecks. I found the introduction to the lakes fascinating. The other powerful exhibit was the one on shipwrecks. It was surprising to learn how often a ship sinks, mainly due to the rough weather the shipping traffic encounters on the 5 Lakes. There is a nice gift store. The bathrooms are very clean. The parking lot is large, but it is a bit of a walk. It is not on your beaten path but GPS makes it easy.

We had no idea this museum existed until recently. If you're a museum fan and like to read everything, allow at least 2 hours just for the museum building. Touring the boats is additional time. It's a very clean, well laid out, compact, nice exhibits museum. You will see history of the discovery of the lakes, info about each lake, shipping and ship history, equipment over the years, and so much more.

The National Museum of the Great Lakes is a great museum, especially if you love the history of Lake Erie. The displays are well done. The museum is very clean and well kept. You can pay for just the museum or buy tickets to tour the big Schoonmaker freighter. It is very cool! I can't imagine living on a ship full time, but this sure gives you the feel of life on a big ship on the Great Lakes.

You truly do not feel like you are in Toledo! Several hands on exhibits (kept the kids busy!) Great movie to begin with (did an excellent job on it).. lot of history, great way to spend a winters afternoon!!!

It was a great experience. I was their for about two hours. There is so much to look at. I loved that there is a lot of hands on things that can be done! This is a great place to take children! There is a lot of past objects to look at that can be related to present objects for students/children. Also in the spring you can tour the ship!

With the power squadron group. We were all impressed with all attractions. nice building and scenery. Things for the younger people to interact with; hands on. We all had a good time, learned about so many things of area, boats and people.

Outstanding museum and the ships were great to explore. We arrived when they opened and went right out to the ships - most people go inside the museum first so we had the boats pretty much to ourselves. Some irritating insects flying around, but they don't bite or land on you. Museum inside has loads of information - too much to digest in a single visit but we learned a lot.

This is a great overall museum to teach you about the history and ecosystem of the Great Lakes.

As an additional paid item, you can tour a historic Great Lakes hauling ship that is moored next to the museum. In the Summer, the ship will be hot, so you pay for your entry to both, and then tour the ship first. It was VERY cool. My husband who likes to see how things run really loved the on-ship views of the engine room, cargo bays and such.

The National Museum of the Great Lakes was the last add on I made on my little road trip. It very well could be the best stop I made that day.

The main museum is extremely well done with lots of artifacts, photos, models, and information. Some museums can be pretty bland, but not this one. The displays are eye catching. The area about ship wrecks was very interesting.

Once I was through inside, I headed out to the Col.James M Schoonmaker freighter. I had never been on a lake freighter before. You can go down and see a hold, wander the galley and crew area and actually go down and see the engine room, which was impressive. Then you walk to the other end of the ship and see the fancy areas that passengers stay in. The guide answered my question and was very knowledgeable.

I then did the tugboat Ohio, which is a pretty quick tour. When I think tugboat, I think boats that mover larger boats around a port. This was once a fire boat and then turned into a barge tug for the Great Lakes. The guide on the tug explained the different classes of tugs to me. The boat was used not to long ago, until the winch broke and since it is integrated into the design of the boat, it was cost prohibitive to repair it. It's good that they made it a museum ship though.

There are also outside exhibits to wander around and see. All in all, excellent stop.

Having grown up less than a mile from L. Michigan, I've always had a fascination for travel on the Great Lakes, even though I've never actually been on a boat on the lakes. The displays about the shipping history of the lakes came to life, especially by going on the freighter docked nearby. The staff were all knowledgable & enthusiastic about the museum & lakes. Ashley (the clerk at the shop) deserves a special shout-out for her infectious love of the museum & Toledo. I only wish there had been more information about the aquatic life in the lakes & the animals living around them.

My advice is you take your time here. So much wonderful information told via narratives, interactive exhibits, and stunning visuals and artifacts. Went with my mom and we agreed it is one of the best museums we have been to.

The National Museum of the Great Lakes is a gem, hiding behind what appears to be an uninteresting subject--don't be deceived. Well worth two more three hours, the museum tells the story of how the Great Lakes influenced the development of the upper midwestern US. Tours of actual lake vessels are included.

This museum focuses on the great lakes. It has models of ships and many artifacts from ships. Displays are nicely laid out with an interesting section on shipwrecks including artifacts from the Edmund Fitzgerald. Many displays are interactive to entertain kids. In warmer months the ship Col. James Schoonmaker is open to tour and is included with admission to. The museum .There is no restaurant here but it is very close to downtown Toledo and the docks area with many restaurants to choose from. There is a gift shop on site. This is a nice museum worth a visit.

A friend from England was here in October and this is one of the highlights that she enjoyed. We did not allow enough time so I would advise that you plan on most of a day there especially if you are touring the ship. The display in the Museum is truly overwhelming and since much of it is reading about the various subjects and artifacts it really cannot be rushed. Another trip back is our plan. Of course, going during the time of year when it is not snowing would work best also!

I like to visit museums and usually make my kids go to something while on our trips. They are 12 and actually really loved it. Lots of interactive exhibits even with covid-19. They give each person a stylus to keep you safe. Only draw back was you could not visit the ship which my son was looking forward to.

Lots of interesting things about the Great Lakes. Old artifacts and nautical history. Without a doubt, you have to tour the large freighter. Check out the passenger cabins, Captains quarters, bridge and the cargo hold. I was amazed at the size!

I was recently asked by my wife if I had ever been on a freight ship (this was after visiting the Welland Canal numerous times during this summer). As I had spent a decent amount of my life traveling, and as I had worked both in the military and in an airport I had driven, gotten a ride in or at least been in all kinds of different land, sea and air vehicles in my life, but I had never been on a freight ship before. So when we started looking for things to do around Detroit and saw that there was one moored at this museum as part of their permanent exhibits we decided that we had to go. The museum itself is fun, with a lot of fun stuff for kids (even our 16 month old loved it) but the highlight were the ships (there is a tugboat there too - though be warned, that unlike the freighter, it can only be visited at certain times of day). Definitely worth a visit.

Especially if you’ve grown up anywhere near the Great Lakes this is an amazing museum. Full of information and great visual displays. Great for children and adults.

This is a wonderful hidden gem. All of the displays are interesting and informative, and there are numerous hands on activities that are made for kids but fun for adults as well.

There is a brief history of the Great Lakes and all kinds of artifacts and exhibits on the maritime aspect of the lakes from ships to light houses and more.

One note, there are a couple of ships that you can tour, but check before going as they're closed in the winter.

Museum was good, but a tour of the Great Lakes freighter was GREAT! Taking the tour, seeing into the hold, the dining halls, bedrooms, etc was a look into the shipping industry on the lakes. See it if you are in Toledo, OH and find some time on your hands.

We really enjoyed visit to this museum & boat. The boat was especially interesting to me & the staff on the boat explaining items were outstanding. Friendly & informative people without being pushy or creepy when looking at items. The inside museum was also very nice even though a little small for all the history they displayed. I would recommend visiting if you want some history of the great lakes.

The exhibits have been updated and kept the interest of a 12 and 6 year old and also things for a 3 year old. Every time I go I find more and learn more about the Great lakes. Very educational. Worth buying a membership.

My daughter and grandchildren were visiting from Virginia and went to Museum, said they had a great time and would do it again when visiting family. I was so intreged by their telling of their experience that it has peaked my interest to go visit on my own.

The museum offers state of the art displays, hands on fun for kids and adults, and a freighter to explore. Don't miss this gem in East Toledo right on Lake Erie!

Before the interstate system, before railroads, and before canals, commercial goods were transports along existing waterways. The Great Lakes were the perfect solution for moving large quantities of goods long distances. today, modern freights are a common sight. Whether you are a pleasure boater or just someone that has ventured near one of the Great Lakes once or twice in your life, there's a good chance you've seen one of these large freighters in passing. This museum takes you through the evolution of the transport of good on the lake from the ancient dugout canoe through to today's mammoth modern ore carrier. When you are done with the museum proper, you can tour one of those mammoth ships in person. Just keep in mind while you are walking the decks of this behemoth, the latest generation of carriers make this one look small.

This is a great museum for people of all ages. If you are a fan of boating of any kind, this is a must see.

Even though it was winter and no ship tour, a small museum packed with a lot of good stuff. we had no particular interest in maritime history but found the place interesting and informative.

This is a very informative museum, self-guided, with a number of interesting artifacts, some from the famed Edmund Fitzgerald. It is a good learning experience for those interested in the evolution of commerce on the Great Lakes and its role in the building of the United States. There are also some hands-on displays for children. The Schoonmaker tour should not be missed. It is a retired 100+-year-old freighter that once plied the waters of the lakes. One can walk into the quarters of the officers and crew members and also visit the massive engine room, galley, cargo hold, and bridge. The only caveat with the freighter is that it would be difficult for people with limited mobility.

Very modern and interactive museum for both kids and adults. There are some technical issues that they hopefully can figure out soon.

We ended up not going away for the Labor Day weekend but were determined to have fun each day close to home. I am so glad we went here!! Very informative. One can got at their own pace in the museum. It was clean with friendly staff. We also went on the ship. They have done an excellent job restoring her and when it is finished she will be ship shape!! (hold the groaning, please!!) The steps can be a bit steep but worth it. One can explore the whole ship. Keep an eye on your kids if you bring them. The museum is wheel chair accessible but not the ship.

Must see! Incredible Great Lakes history! Requires at least a full day to view interesting artifacts & history.

Excellent! Lots of knowledge and interactive models. Spent an hour here and was pleased with the time spent. There was a nice gift shop there as well.

The museum was very informative and interesting. Very well done. The ship and boat tours were ok. The museum is better. Don’t miss this

Great museum and freighter tour. Would recommend it to everyone. Liked the interactive exhibits. Easy access from I-280. For great hot dogs after seeing the Museum, stop a Tony Packos which is just a few miles away on Front Street.

Great historical museum and friendly staff. They were even giving out a free book on Father's Day "A Shipcaptain's Daughter" signed by the author, which I thought was a very nice touch (as well as a nice surprise). Almost finished the book and have enjoyed it. The Schoonmaker is a great vessel to tour and it was the first time I got to go on a ship of such size--it was really cool, and I got to see a lot. The self-guided audio tour was also helpful in understanding the history of this freighter. First visit to Toledo, but would put visiting this place right up there with the zoo and a game at Fifth Third Park (which we also did).

This is an interesting plan to visit. We toured the ship, but did not enter the museum. Very neat! We may go back to see th museum too.

We had a great visit to this museum. Well organized with interesting, informative displays. We would recommend. The ship was well worth the price to visit.

We hadn't been to the museum since it moved to Toledo from Vermillion a couple years ago. The new displays are more interactive and less cluttered and include hands-on activities for kids. There is even a "furnace" that kids can stoke with foam "coal" to make the temperature rise. The giant lighthouse lens is gorgeous in its new, better-lit setting. Exhibits cover the ecology of the lakes, shipwrecks (including the Fitgerald), shipping, and passenger boats. The freighter "Col. James M. Schoonmaker" is amazing and worth the trip by itself. Over 700 feet long, it is docked in the river next to the museum. You get to see all of the ship, including the cargo hold, engine room, crew quarters, and the fancy owner's suite. The ship tour does require climbing up and down the ship's stairs which are more like ladders so it might not be appropriate for small children or other people with mobility limitations. If you need a place to eat, an excellent brew pub--the Maumee Bay Brewing Company, also known as The Cafe--is five minutes from the museum.

Truly a Toledo destination, to go along with the Toledo Zoo, and the Toledo Museum of Art. This was our 2nd time going here, and this time we brought other family members and friends. Awesome exhibits, very educational, and very historical to the region. Highly recommended.

Went to see the history of the great lakes and ended up exploring a freighter!the museum was very informative and the freighter was a delight
To see how the sailors lived and worked was interesting
Also the difference between the living conditions of the crew ,captain and the owners were on show.
Would recommend this to be visited

It was awesome seeing the effort made to restore the Schoonmaker and learn about other freight vessels passing through the Great Lakes area. I've never seen any in depth information about the Great Lakes and each lake and what each lake is best known for. People forget about how vital the Great Lakes were to the early U.S. economy and especially the 19th century economy. The work to preserve the ships and artifacts from the times has really paid off. I would recommend at least 2 hours to go through the museum to see each area.

I highly recommend! The museum displays were interesting and interactive. The best feature was the freighter. We actually got to go aboard and learn about the amazing history of the Great Lakes. It took about 3 hours and would be very suitable for all ages of children.

Basically, this little museum covers it all- from the origins of trade on the Great Lakes by Indians and the settlers who came later, to the ever-larger ships that plied the Great Lakes, and the port of Toledo. There is plenty about the wrecks- famous and forgotten- that are also a part of the history of the lakes. Saw it on the anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald wreck, and it the museum provides both context and some interesting artifacts from "the mighty Fitz"
I did not go aboard the ship, that is docked outside the museum, and is an option to the museum itself.
This is a relatively new attraction in Toledo, and it is very well done.

This museum is beautifully done and very informative! I live in Michigan and even I was amazed at what I didn't know. The price is right, too. We paid $33 for three people for both the museum and the Schoonmaker. Well worth it. We spent about an hour and a half in the museum and spent another hour on the Schoonmaker (of course, it could have been a shorter visit on the Schoonmaker, but my husband (a Navy guy) got to chatting with one of the guys that takes care of the ship. He was very informative, too!) Go for a visit. You won't regret it!

This small museum does a great job of covering all aspects of shipping and ships on the great lakes. There are a lot of displays to look at and learn from even if you are not that all interested in ships. The freighter on the premises is a self-guided tour with docents to answer questions and give a bit more history on the ship. The engine room on this hip is a must see and awe inspiring. The freighter is closed during the winter and reopens in May.

It is a very interesting museum, with about two hours you have time to see it. I recommend reading all the history is very interesting and all the staff very friendly.

This is a great museum but it's not part of the National Park System. But it's still a great museum in general but what makes it unique is the marina right outside its door. There are restrooms with showers and a separate entrance for the boaters. Maumee River boaters Come on in.

Though we did not have time to add the ship tour to our visit, my teenage son and I learned a lot in this little gem. Being a local, I thought it would mostly cover things I already knew, but I was pleasantly surprised. There are a few interactive touches which was nice. Consider the fee to be mostly donation for maintenance and eventual expansion. Really wish we had toured the ship too.

Came here on a cloudy, overcast day with not a lot of expectations.
Left after a few hours with a great experience and pieces of history in regards to our Great Lakes. Hundreds of artifacts, inter active areas for the younger crowd and plenty of nautical information to provide a wealth of knowledge. Left the Museum becoming annual members. Been back a a number of times and learn something each time. In milder weather the membership gives you access to the Ship docked alongside the museum for a full tour.

Such a fun surprise! We took the whole family.. grandparents, adults and kids 10, 7, and 4 and they all loved it. We were there for hours and could have stayed longer, but we had lunch plans to get to. The museum section was really well done and interesting. Don't skip loading coal or taking photos in the photo booth. What really surprised me was how much the kids loved going on the boat, and of course when we got to front and could pull the horn and steer they couldn't get us out of there. Highly recommend!

A well curated museum but the star of the show is the Lake Freighter that one can tour entirely! The website claims that two hours is sufficient for both the Ship and Museum but if you enjoy reading the placards and inspecting the spaces, plan a morning. Then go down the street to Tony Packo's for a hungarian hotdog!

Great museum with well done and informative displays. The retired lake ship which one can tour and inspect is the highlight. A terrified insight into days gone by.

We made it a point to stop at the museum while in Toledo. Found it interesting and enjoyable. Would recommend stopping at Tony Packo's just about a 1/2 mile down the road for lunch or dinner.

took my group of grade school children there over the summer
they loved going on the big ship and all the hands on activities at the museum

A small, but well designed museum dedicated to America's inland seas. Shipwrecks, the history of commerce on the lakes from canoes to freighters, lighthouses, sport fishing, all are highlighted. Expect to spend 1-3 hours exploring.

We spent approximately three hours at the museum, including tour of the barge and tugboat.

Reminders of the dangers of travel across the Great Lakes, fortunately most of the major tragedies were long ago.

Yes, I live up the river but it is important to act like a tourist in your own backyard. National Museum of the Great Lakes is one of the places I love to take out of town guests. I had an opportunity to visit while it was under construction. So much thought went into making this an enjoyable experience and still highly educational.
I am a diver, a boater, and lover off open water. To live the stories of lives lost, lives saved on our Great Lakes is truly inspirational. We talk about our gems of Toledo. This certainly needs to be added to that list.

I have driven past this museum for months and finally had time to check it out. I try to tour ships wherever I travel and this one is wonderful. All of the crew spaces on the stern are open for inspection. You have access to the full galley and the cabins for the galley stewards. Plus, you have three levels of the engine room open to you.. Everywhere I looked, this ship sparkled. Usually, the engine room is off limits. This is mostly because they are covered in oily film. The ship's hull is beautiful. Her water line orange paint completely redone from bow to stern. Her hull above the water has also been completely redone. The weather deck, with its' cargo hold covers, cargo cover crane, scuppers and flat deck are impressive with their paint job. When you walk on the deck, you have to be careful of the hull sounding openings and deck joining plates. They stick up about 2 inches. A single cargo hold is open for inspection. The ladder going down into it is steep. You can see most of the hold just by looking into the opening. The forward section of the ship is open for inspection from the main deck and up three levels. The cabins are all open to see. The area not open for viewing is the common seamen berthing. This is down one and two decks below the forward section. As I said, the ship is beautifully refurbished. The only noticeable area needing worth is the area around and above the pilot house. This is minor since the other 600 feet are great. All of the access doors have "knee knockers." This means the openings are raised a foot or more above the deck. This keeps water from sloshing into an open door. The "knee knockers" and the joint plates on the deck make this ship not handicap accessible. The boarding ramp is really steep with traction bars every two feet. Please remember this was a working vessel and all the guard rails are low (hip high for my wife). Watch yourself near them. The museum is filled with many items and interactive displays. After touring the ship, I did not leave enough time until museum closing to make a fair tour of the museum. My next time will be more time for the museum.

A great look at the history of the Great Lakes and ships on the water in the Midwest. The Boyer is an interesting showcase and I can see the lure of life on board.

Loved this place so much we bought an annual family pass (we live 2 hours away). Exhibits like using a metal detector, photographing shipwrecks, fueling a boiler, and much more; definitely kept the kids entertained! Updated video/LED map presentation was good. For adults - tons of history and really good photos and paintings of the Great Lakes and its ships. Kids also enjoyed exploring the the iron ore carrier Schoonmaker on site. Too much to see/do in a couple of hours. Looking forward to coming back!

I'm not typically a "museum person" but thought I'd go through it since I went there to tour the ship-- and let me just say -- wow, was I impressed-- the museum is interesting, interactive, and relevant... and, I learned a lot! - The ship was AWESOME as well, there are guides on board who can explain different things along the way which was great -- I recommend both of these attractions highly!

Wonderful displays and multi media exhibits. Enjoyable place to visit with things to interest people of all ages.

Lots of history and artifacts about all 5 Great Lakes. Some changes because of covid but still lots of exhibits. Reasonably priced admission. The tour of the boat was very nice and gives you an idea of what life on a ship is like.

The staff is so nice. They walk around on the boat and have a lot of neat information. The ship itself is really cool. Kind of a lot of spiders around, so if that freaks you out watch where you stick your hands or head when walking. Wear pants. I wore a skirt and scraped my legs up pretty bad on the metal steps. They are super narrow and going down I kept hitting my leg. I didn't think it out. Getting on the boat requires a pretty steep ramp. The interior of the boat has the steep stairs and many obstacles. So the boat is really not very friendly to anyone with any mobility issues at all. The interior museum out front of the boat is very accessible to anyone. It's pretty neat too. We spent so much time on the boat we didn't get enough inside the museum. Allow a long day or two days ideally. We spent hours on the boat though, you probably could go quicker than we did.

I was pleasantly surprised with how interactive and engaging this museum is. The museum itself has many hands on activities suitable for both adults and children, along with great artifacts that are displayed very effectively. I feel like my boyfriend and I learned a lot from our visit to the museum. We chose to pay the extra money to tour the cargo ship outside of the museum. We really enjoyed walking around the old boat. My boyfriend especially enjoyed seeing the old engines and the huge cargo space. The boat tour is really worth the extra few dollars. While the climb to get on the boat was honestly really scary, it was worth it.

My daughter and I went for the trick or treating event they had. It was so neat and some areas had neat activities like a man drawing characters and just people to explain different things on the boat. It was a neat experience.

We liked Detroit's Great Lakes museum on Belle Isle, but this one in Toledo blows it out of the water. Divided into thematic sections, its photos, videos and artifacts vividly demonstrate the Lakes' huge role in making America great (the first time). The dramatic stories of triumph and tragedy are shown in very human terms. We spent two hours and wish we'd had at least twice that time.

Nice of them to not charge us admission fee, and it was cool seeing a ship, honestly never been on one before

The short movie at the entrance was a great starting point. The signage and displays were engaging and interesting. From Morse code to the equipment to the 2 ships outside, there was a lot to see. The shipwrecks part was my favorite. I also really appreciated that they have a special admission for caregivers of individuals with disabilities. We have an adult son with autism, and they allowed me in at no cost as his caregiver. Thank you.

I learned a lot about the Great Lakes at this museum and other shipwrecks besides the Edmund Fitzgerald, which one of its lifeboats is displayed. With the soft, low lighting, it is a sensory friendly experience for those with sensory processing disorder. Splurge on the ship tour. Since the museum was slow that day, one of the volunteers gave me a personal tour of the ship. Allow at least 90 minutes for the museum and an extra hour for the ship.

This is THE place to learn about great lakes shipping. the wreck history. The ship building from when it started to present. The exhibit on THE FITZ is a must!

My family and I had a great time! We stopped by on a whim and are glad we did! Come with about an hour and a half or you will not have enough time. The museum is very nice and has several hands-on activities for the kids. The ship is a lot of fun. I have toured several military ships and this was practically as much fun.

We by chance drove by this museum on Front street just south of the I280 big bridge over the Maumee River. The big Col. James M. Schoonmaker freighter is what made us stop. We bought the combo ticket for the ship tour and the museum. We toured the retired lake freighter first. Self-guided but there are signs on the deck to follow. You walk among the cargo hold covers and close to the edge. There are several volunteers which are a great source of information. One volunteer told us about the engine room and another told us about the passengers area and Captain's office and cabin. We then went back to tour the museum. There was a history of the great lakes right to left with transportation changes to bigger and bigger ships. There were many areas where you answered questions, viewed more informational videos, or worked devices. The ship tour and the museum exceeded our expectations. Good job.

The museum was very interesting and informative. Many interactive displays to keep everyone interested, and cautions to sanitize before and after use. It would be very interesting and educational for children.

An excellent mix of culture, history, development and the economy of the Great Lakes region. From Indian history, explorers, the rise of commerce by water- really engaging for all ages with plenty of detail for adults.

My husband and I really enjoyed the tour of the Schoonmaker and the museum. Lots of great exhibits. Just missed the Edmund Fitzgerald exhibit by a few days. Mark , one of the volunteers on the ship was so nice to talk to and really gave us great information about the ship.

I was in town for walleye fishing but the high winds prevented us from going out on the lake so looking for something to do for the day we decided to tour the Great Lakes Museum. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It starts with a detailed description of each lake...depth, size, water tonnage, etc. with a very nice 3D type graphic of each lake. There is a display of the type of vessels that plied the lakes over time and the type of commodities that they transported. There is a description of the people, industries, storms, and ferry services. There are also many artifacts from actual vessels including the Edmund Fitzgerald. There are too many things to list in this review. There is also a lake freighter docked next to the museum that can be toured but the tours start in May. We missed in by a month. The price of admission is $7. Parking is plentiful. There is a gift shop and restrooms. And an added bonus, Tony Packo's restaurant is just up the street!!!

I thought this stop was quite enlightening and gave clarity to the history of shipping on the Great Lakes. It was an added bonus to go on the two ships.I would recommend to anyone in the area to stop here.This was a gem.

I had seen signs for this museum and finally made plans to visit with my family. This museum is fantastic! It really does tell the story of the Great Lakes, along with everything that goes with them. I was struck by the 3D topographic maps showing the depth of the lakes, but there was so much more. I have toured a number of nautical and Mariners museums, but this one provided a lot of information I had never seen before.

We especially enjoyed the ore boat and the ability to see the engine room, cargo hold, crew quarters and pilot house. Docent Tom was so friendly and added a lot of facts along with answering all our questions.

Highly recommended - even my teens enjoyed it. Allow 2-3 hours to see everything.

Beautiful building located on the Maumee River is filled with all aspects of social and geological history, providing an excellent program for anyone visiting the Great Lakes region.

I was surprised how awesome this place was which is located in the Toledo Skyway Marina! Outside, we went on the HUGE SS Col. James M. Schoonmaker ship. This ship, to me is tall/big. I don't like heights but I was eager to walk the plank to get on this ship and learn. We walked the entire ship from from to back and took in everything! We probably spend a bit over 1 hour on this ship reading and looking at everything. As a landlubber, I learned a TON about ships , mission and the personnel that perform the many jobs in this industry. They also have a tug boat that you can go on which is parked in the front of the BIG ship. I have a much better appreciation for this industry and the people. Not sure I could do any of the jobs that are needed on the ships. Inside the museum, they have a ton of artifacts and information and you can spend hours reading everything and watching the various video's. This is a must see if in the area. Plenty of parking and parking is free. The museum rates are very nominal and worth every penny. Not sure the two outside boats can handle strollers, wheelchairs, etc.

Fun and educational visit. The museum is small, but they had alot of information packed in a great way. There were several hands on displays.

i am here to thank everyone for helping my school even when i perches things from your guys shop i even want to thank Adam H for help me cash out for the things i bought. then when everyone was talking this young man plays around with us so that why i want to thank you guys even Adam H for helping to when we were down with every thing so if you guys do any thing they should get a thanking or something for helping us with every thing today on may 3, 2018 so again i just want to thank you for every thing you did with us today even when we keep on talking so then i would tell you that i would come back with my family sometime over the summer and again thank you very much for helping us and asking any questions that we had about your boat museum or your gift shop then i wanted to tell you that it was a short visit and that i will tell people about this museum and come again and take a lounger tour with James M. Schoonmaker

Priceless history , treasures, artifacts and videos. The museum is beautifully created and maintained. Great for everyone .

This museum is a great place to visit with the kids on a rainy day. On a sunny day you can pay the extra charge and tour the big lake freighter parked next to the museum. Prices seem a little high to me, especially the two different charges for inside the museum and the ship, but it is very family friendly, with lots of information and exhibits. If you love the great Lakes, you will love this muesum.

Visit the ship and museum then have early dinner on the dock, very close by. It took a while for the museum to get the funding, but if want to see what a great lakes freighter looks like, climb aboard. Saw it about 10 years ago, and you couldn't go through all of it, now you can.

A nice attraction. Informative with some audio feature and inactive displays that would make it interesting for kids. Was glad to see the display for the Edmund Fitzgerald, the most famous great lakes ship wreck. Restrooms was easily available and clean. Worth the price and stop. Lots of history related to the role of the great lakes in the development of the country.

Wonderful displays about the history of the Great Lakes ranging from how they were formed to ship wrecks and life saving to coal unloading. All the hands-on displays work. There is one where you pilot a submersible to explore the Edmund Fitzgerald. Really cool.

Was in town to see Kent play Toledo @ Glass bowl the next morning. Did some research and decided to give this a try as I've recently been very interested in the history of the lakes.

Arrived on a Friday morning at 11am- we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves, which was nice as we could go at our own pace and didn't feel like we had to rush. Spent about 2 hours in the exhibits and learned a lot!

We both agreed it was worth the money. Our favourite part was the info about the shipwrecks. Also, the boat tour was an added bonus for the extra few bucks. If you have any kind of an interest in the Great Lakes or maritime history check it out!

My husband and I really enjoyed our trip here. The ship was our favorite part. Very impressive! Still needing a bit of restoration, so I hope they can raise the money for that. The museum itself was very well done and interesting. Definitely worth a trip - but I believe the ship part of the museum is only open seasonally, so you might want to check to see if it is open before you come.

Small but informative museum, some of the interactive displays were broken. Touring the boat was interesting. Make sure you have good knees to get back down the ramp. They offer AAA discount.

Both my kids 10/12 had a great time here. They learned a lot about the safety devices, boating and the lakes all within an hour and a half.
Every time we drive over the bridge they ask when we can go back!
Highly recommend this place.

WOW and WOW! Have wanted to stop here for a few years, and so thankful we finally did. The informative and lovely museum is extremely well done, and deserving of more time than we had that day. The Schoonmaker is beautifully restored and even if you're not a "boatnerd" (like we are), it's fascinating. This is a real gem for Toledo, and sincerest thanks to everyone involved with both the museum and the boat. Put this on your "must do" list!

On the last day of our family reunion in Toledo to honor my late father, we discovered the National Museum of the Great Lakes just after lunch nearby. We decided to tour both the Schoonmaker lake barge and then visit the museum next door. After purchasing our tickets, the receptionist advised us to board the Schoonmaker first. I am glad she did since we had only thirty minutes to spare and would have missed out on the barge otherwise.

It was our first time on a lake barge and we were impressed by its size, especially knowing it was built in the same era as the Titanic. The scale remains striking even today. Unfortunately, we did not have time to explore the museum itself. We managed a quick stop in the gift shop and also took a few photos by the giant propeller at the entrance.

Not seeing the full museum gives us another reason to return on our next visit. We also want to thank the museum for honoring the military with discounted tickets. We greatly appreciated that!

The museum is small, but has a lot of exhibits and information about shipping on the Great Lakes. There are quite a few interactive exhibits. You can buy tickets for just the museum or you can pay a little extra and get access to the tug boat and cargo ship that are docked next to the museum. I would suggest paying the little extra. If you do go on the ship, I would also suggest wearing sturdy walking shoes. There are a few narrow staircases you will be climbing. The new Glass City Metropark is next door to the museum. Makes it easy to combine both in one trip.

The museum was excellent - lots of really interesting information, exhibits and interactives. We also paid to look around the Colonel James M Schoonmaker - the information posted around the ship was interesting. However, the absolute highlight was the informal tour which we were offered by the young man in the helm area. He was incredibly knowledgeable, not only about this ship, but about shipping in general. He took time out of his day to share his knowledge and his passion with us, and is a fabulous ambassador for the museum. Thank you!

Very nicely done. Exhibits educational.The ship tour physically difficult for some. Well worth the time and effort.

There is a lot to see here. I learned so much about the shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. We are saw a film about the Edmund Fitzgerald. We did not visit the ship that is there, we plan to do that soon.

We made our first visit to the Museum and were extremely impressed with the quality of the exhibits. I would highly recommend it for anyone who has any interest in the Great Lakes or lives in the Toledo area. We are very fortunate to have this museum in our community. Lots of hands on exhibits and a fantastic learning experience for the young and old. A great place to learn about the history of our Great Lakes and the ships that sail on them.

The museum was very informative and self guiding. They had models on many different ships and lots of neat pieces of history, from scuba gear, life jackets and rafts, to parts of the ships and lighthouses! It was also very interactive with challenges you could try and videos to watch!
The tour of the Schoonmaker was my favorite! It is a huge ship! You could walk down into the cargo hold, see the engine, the passenger rooms, everything!
Great for kids and adults alike! The ship is a little challenging, the steps are very small, just be careful and have fun!

We first toured the lake freighter there at the dock. We walked through the whole ship, from the cargo hold to the bridge. Then we went into the museum and spent two hours checking out all of the displays. A lot of good info on the lakes and the history of shipping from the 1600's to the present.

Wish I would have realized the boats were not open in the winter. Just another reason to return. Enjoyed reading about the Great Lakes and ships that sank. Very detailed descriptions of every exhibit. Lots of reading and not many hands on activities for kids. I noticed a bunch of small children looking bored but as an adult loved this museum. So much information in a small building. Price is very reasonable and a small little gift shop as well.

We used to go to this museum when it was in Vermillion. It is all updated and interactive now. Our 8 and 16 yr old grands loved the boat and the museum. The self guided boat tour was definitely the highlight, especially since my hubby worked on the great lakes in the 70's and could really give so many details. Seeing the liferaft from the Edmund Fitzgerald made me sad. Growing up here, this was a stark reminder of that terrible accident.

Excellent newer museum. 100 year old freighter docked alongside offers self guided tours (additonal charge for admission). The tour is originated with a QR reader on your own smart phone and very easy to use. Very nice exhibits in the main museum building. Plan on spending 1 1/2 to 2 hours total.

Thank you, TripAdvisor. Such a great learning experience for all age groups. So much to see and do. Learned so much.

This venue showcases the impact that the Great Lakes has had on the growth of American industry. Great Lake shipping brought everything from iron ore to grain to location around the world.
Artifacts of the ill-fated Edmund Fitzgerald and other ships are on display. The museum is family friendly and located on the east bank of the Maumee River.

Never thought tug boats and freighters could be so interesting. Great place to learn about the Great Lakes and all it does for our state, shipping and the history. Definitely do the boat tours. Pretty cool

A variety of exhibits and interactive activities dot this museum. There are models of boats, an assortment of nautical artifacts and quite a few hands-on activities that will keep younger visitors happy as well. They have really done a nice job cataloging the Great Lakes experience. Highly recommend for a couple hour visit.

Very educational and informative. Can go through the museum in a half day, depending on how much time you have. All exhibits are interesting and easy to read. Lots of interaction. Definitely purchase the double ticket for the cargo ship as well as that is certainly a highlight. Well laid out.

This is indeed a petunia in an onion patch! If you are a history, gearhead or just interested in general this is super! There is a beautiful little museum and a tugboat all attached to the beautiful lake freighter. There are a few well informed guides to chat about anything! Just a very well piece of great history.

This museum was previously located in Vermilion, Ohio and, although comprehensive for a local destination, it was severely limited in space for its growing exhibits. That changed drastically when it moved to Toledo where it was developed and re-branded as the National Museum of the Great Lakes. At the museum you can learn about how the transportation of goods and passengers on America’s inland seas contributed to economic and social development of cities like Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland and Buffalo - just to name a few. The museum traces the history of Lakes shipping from the region’s indigenous inhabitants to today’s international shipping scene. There are numerous model ships on display so you can view the evolution of vessels that “sailed” the Lakes through the years. Outside you can tour the renovated bulk freighter Col. James M. Schoonmaker museum ship and see the tug boat Ohio, recently acquired from the Great Lakes Towing Company. Renovation of the Ohio is scheduled for completion in late 2019.

To me, there were two especially interesting exhibits. The first documented the conversion of two Lakes passenger ships to aircraft carrier training vessels during World War II (President George H.B. Bush trained there). The other is an interactive display that allowed me to search and explore the wreck of the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald, the sinking of which has been well-chronicled in story and song. You can actually drive the submersible!

Touring the Museum of the Great Lakes is not only an enjoyable two-hour experience but is also organized to help you to understand how Great Lakes shipping continues to be pivotal to the industries that border the inland seas of America. Steel, grain, auto, coal, lumber, ship building - the list goes on and on. Visiting the museum will prove to be both interesting and an opportunity to understand why the north coast of our country, although not as glamorous as New York or LA, truly helped make our America great!

Finally, the museum is conveniently located adjacent to local entertainment and dining locations. Enjoy.

My husband and I enjoyed visiting the museum. They have many exhibits to tell you the history of shipping in the Great Lakes. They have many artifacts from the Edmund Fitzgerald which my husband saw when it was first launched in Detroit.

By all means if you like ships and maritime history please put this down to visit. See the ship as well when open during the season. Nice exhibits. Something for everyone

This museum is a well designed and worth while place to visit to gain a comprehensive view and understanding of the significance the Great Lakes. The museum has numerous exhibits that proved educational, fun facts, and little known activities have happened over time.

The tug boat and freighter provides the opportunity for a close up view of how the boat and ship were used. It also provides a view of life aboard a working vessel.

During our self guided tour of the freighter, we encounter Jack, a volunteer at the museum. He is a retired pilot of a tug boat provided us with a detailed tour of structure on the bow where the crew sleep and eat. He shared numerous storied about the ship's owner and how his family and friends cruise the Great Lakes in style.

This is a must see item on any bucket list.

The museum seems very small from the outside but it has something for everyone with lots of interactive exhibits. We brought a 1yr, 4yr and 9 yr old and they all had a great time.

On our recent visit to Toledo we visited the Great Lakes Museum... We had not heard of this museum till we got to Toledo. A pleasant surprise... Small and compact. It gives a very approachable and digestible history of the Great Lakes.

Very informative and interesting overview of the Great Lakes shipping. The freighter is the best of the attractions but the museum is also quite nice. Teachers get in free with ID!

Once we got past the incredibly rude ticket agent, our visit was pleasant. The self-guided nature was perfect for us. We learned a lot and had fun. I would just recommend helping that ticket agent out because she was clearly a very unhappy person who needs some love.

When we arrived for our time-stamped entrance (Covid protocol), we decided to tour the tug and freighter first before it became too hot outside. We spent about an hour and a half total for both boats. Both vessels had clearly marked trails so you know where you are going. We spent so much time there because the Schoonmaker had an interesting film that showed the Edmund Fitzgerald and it's a beautiful ship with historic elements still in place. The museum was interesting as well, covering the history of the Great Lakes to present day technology. I grew up on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin and have extensively traveled all of the Great Lakes, but I still found interesting information in this museum. If you don't know anything about the Great Lakes or if you know them well, this museum is worth the admission.

When in the Toledo area, this is one stop you will not want to miss. The museum is only 4 years old and includes a great lakes ship, the Colonel James M. Schoonmaker that can be boarded and toured at your speed. Yellow arrows mark the way and guide you through all key parts of the ship from the engine room to the bridge. The museum features a variety of interactive displays with plenty of interesting information. This is a two hour stop at the minimum. The museum is only open from May through Oct., so my grandson and I just made the boat, as such. There is no wifi, and I did not see any picnic tables, and all tours are self-guided.

Our group loved the tour of the freighter Col James M Schoonmaker. Our tour guide, Kevin, kept things moving and entertaining with stories about each room and pointed out pieces of particular interest. Would recommend this as a family place to tour, great knowledge for everyone of any age. We toured the museum on our own and the inter-active exhibits are great. My favorite was the one on building a birch bark canoe, step by step (yes using some modern tools), however, very much like what could have been the process of our early ancestors.

This museum is truly a gem in Toledo. My family enjoyed both the museum and the ship tour. The museum goes in depth to educate and also give the history of the great lakes and the ships that sale them. The ship tour was a pleasant surprise. We were able to go in almost every area of the ship. I have been on these tours before in other places but have never had the kind of access to so many areas. Everything was nicely done, clean and interested. I would highly recommend for adults and older children.

We went to the National Museum of the Great Lakes and the Schoonmaker; both provide fascinating stories of ships on the great lakes; information presented in a way that draws interest; some interactive activities; different sections of the museum - shipwrecks, industry, lighthouses. there were two employees on the ship where were very knowlegable and eager to answer questions. We were able to get to all the decks, seeing cargo areas and captains quarters. Very friendly staff in the museum itself. Parking is very close by and there are picnic tables where you can sit and relax. Great views of the Maumee River. Nice restaurants close by if you want to make a day of it. Close to Toledo downtown - just over the bridge. Senior rates apply. Museum looks small from the outside but it is filled with exhibits. Small gift shop; no restaurant

This was our first visit to the museum. It was a special day for seniors. The turnout was twice what the sponsors expected. this museum tells the whole history of sailing on the Great Lakes and how towns and cities on the lakes were benefited economically from the shipping lanes. The guide said that people typically spend up to 90 minutes exploring the museum. There is much historical information, several hands-on exhibits, and vast numbers of aritfacts.

There is a museum of the five Great Lakes that I found to be moderately of interest. I liked the way they showed how deep each of the Great Lakes are. Lake Superior is the deepest and Lake Erie, as I recall, was the shallowest. The ship and the tugboat were of lesser interest. The ship was a huge, very long ship that was mostly stripped of anything of interest, but took me an extraordinarily long time to visit. The much smaller tugboat was just your standard tugboat, though the tugboat captain was very concerned that there be an even distribution of people (possibly weight) on both levels of the tugboat. Oh, well!

Be sure to allot at least two hours for your visit here. Tour the boats first and read all of the historical information posted inside them. Then proceed to the museum which is well thought out and informative. This is a must for any "Boat Nerd", even if you have been to other marine museums!

Step back in time to learn how valuable the Great Lakes are. The history is captivating. then, the ship tour. Sailing one hundred years ago didn't look too bad.

Saw the sign as we were traveling a bed turned around. So glad we did. Great museum and we really enjoyed it. The ticket agent suggested that we tour the boat first due to heat. Great suggestion. It was a self guided tour with audio which we enjoyed being able to do at our own pace. When we went inside we told ourselves we would t stay long then found ourselves very engaged with all of the interactive learning opportunities. Well worth the stop

Excellent Museum and wonderful experience. Our family of adult children ALL enjoyed being on the Ship and exploring the engine room and seeing the cabins they crew slept in. The museum was very well laid out and displayed.
The ship is not handicap friendly, but the museum is.

We had been to the museum when it was in Vermilion and loved it there. This new museum is larger and very well done. I think it covers everything about the Great Lakes, of course aren't we all haunted by the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. You will learn a lot, even about the history of how they load the ships - at one time they hauled everything with horses and mules, before it was automated - who knew!

Interesting for all ages. Younger ones will love it and it is extremely well laid out for older folks or those with disabilities. We were there before the Schoonmaker was open for the season, and that would be an added bonus, to get to tour that. Even at this time of year you can get right next to it.

Definitely something to see! And P S Tony Packo's is just a mile away.

I wish the boat tour was open! Nice museum, learned a lot about the lakes I spent my childhood on. Lovely location. Small building but set up with a lot of cool facts and fun things for all ages. Great gift shop! A little pricey.

A wonderful display of pictures and artifacts very well done . Interactive displays and hands on displays appeal to all age groups. Well worth a visit!

We really enjoyed the self guided tour of the cargo ship. I think the app is necessary to get the full experience. The museum was also very informative. I wish the narration covered it too. The area around the museum is still getting built up. It would be fun if there was more to do there.

Please note that the ship tours are closed for the winter but you can still tour the museum. The museum has lots of items on display from shipwrecks on the Lakes. The have a few items from the Edmund Fitzgerald on display.

If you have any interest in the Great Lakes or maritime stories, this is the place to go. 👍👍

The museum was informative. The ship had a well laid out path, and was a beautiful sight to see. Everyone was very helpful with questions. At $12 a person ($11 with discount) it was a very good value for money.

A great museum to visit. Lot's of information, many displays with interesting stories. Interactive displays. Free parking. There are two boats you can tour if you want to...we looked around on both of them. The larger boat had a volunteer who used to work on the boat back in the 70s and he was cool to chat with a bit.

We were driving from Maine to Minnesota and made a point to stop in Toledo to check out this museum and it was worth the stop.

An interesting museum, but I imagine it would be better in the summer with the boats open. Our 10 year old daughter enjoyed it - there were many interactive exhibits for kids.

I came across this museum after looking for things to do near my new home. Growing up in Michigan, I kind of had a passing interest in the Great Lakes in general, and I found this museum very informative and interesting. It is split up into two parts, the museum itself, and the James Schoonmaker museum ship, but they are both well presented. The museum exhibits included a LOT of reading, but I noticed there was a lot of interactive exhibits for kids. The real gem of the museum, in my opinion, is the museum ship because, let's face it, when are you ever going to have the chance to go on board a Great Lakes freighter? I enjoyed myself, and would go back. The museum admission was 11 dollars, and the Schoonmaker was an additional 4 dollars, but well worth it. If visiting, I would allot 2-3 hours to view the museum and ship.

This is absolutely worth a visit and make sure you pay the $4 extra to tour their preserved freighter too. I spent an hour just on the ship and could have stayed far longer. Everything is in good condition and well labeled and you'll learn a lot about shipping and the ecology of the lakes. Their staff are also very helpful and friendly and do note that if you're AAA or military you get a discount.

Great museum with very interesting exhibits. The museum is located right on the water with a great view of the city and access to the walking path along the river. Museum has a Great Lakes freighter and tug boat docked outside. The freighter and tug are only open from May to October. Definitely enjoyed it and will be back in the summer to tour the boats.

We visited this on the urging of a past schoolmate as she wanted pics of the ship and she now lives in FL. She remembered a class field trip when this ship was located further down river but the location of the ship now makes it even easier to get to. Lots of interesting displays in the museum itself and you can also board the ship to check it out. Just happens the day we were there there was a man onboard who toured us throughout the ship telling us different things about the ship. Plan on 1 1/2 to 2 hour visit but it's quite interesting.

Looked for “ things to do “ and saw this Museum. We came in and stayed about 3 hrs!! Very informative. From past to future of the colonizing of the area. We pushed all the interactive buttons and had a lot of fun. It’s just too bad the boat wasn’t open. Not until May and we were here in apr. next time.

I had been to see the SS Boyer many years ago with my son and husband, before the Boyer was renamed the SS Schoonmaker. And also (I’m pretty sure) before there was a museum at the site. I was delighted at what I saw and will be visiting again because my feet wore out before I was halfway through everything. The museum may not be large in square footage, but it was packed with interesting exhibits, many of them interactive. The Schoonmaker is fantastic, especially the engine room! Maybe I’m a geek for this sort of thing, but there were multiple levels to visit and lots of explanatory material.

This museum is truly fascinating, with exhibits regarding everything from bootlegging to ice breakers to warships... very informative and appeals to kids of multiple ages (I brought a 5 year old and an 11 year old). Also, it's a nice inexpensive option to some of the other attractions in the area; I paid less than $30 for tickets to the museum and the ship.

Does a great job of bringing all aspects of shipping on the lakes through the ages under one roof. Different craft,different commodities, the extremes of weather, the tragedies. There are things to look at, to watch, to play with, something for everyone and to top it all off there's a freighter on the river to investigate.

Very interesting ... a wealth of information presented in a pleasant manner ...all about the Great Lakes. Good visual displays, great artifacts .... our 14 yr old twin grandsons were enthralled by all the information. Go in the warmer weather so you can tour the lake freighter outside. (Boyer) Plan to spend 3-4 hours.

Any exhibits that include technology don’t work - photo booth, ship tracking, discover a shipwreck, etc. No docents to help with anything.

Wonderful tour of a cargo ship and tug boat. Exhibits were very good with child friendly interactive exhibits interwoven. Great time was had my all.

Pay the $4.00 extra to go on the self-guided tour of the museum ship, "Col. James M. Schoonmaker". It is an eye-opening experience. But the entrance ramp is both steep and quite high (about 3 to 4 stories) before you get on the ship. The ramp is a metal grill that you can see through to see just how high you are. Anyone who is afraid of heights will have troubles on this ramp. I was told some children choose to crawl up the ramp because they are afraid. Amidship, there is a less steep ramp that leads into the cargo hold. That ramp is solid and opaque, and not nearly as steep or high. It is a much better choice for those with acrophobia (of which I have a moderate case). From the cargo hold there is a screen door and a solid door to exit to the less steep ramp. I made it up the steep ramp slowly, and I was glad to learn about and exit via the cargo hold. I spent more than three hours in this great museum and on the ship.

Was to be the first stop of several on our day. Turned out to be the main stop. Got there just after opening about noon and did not leave until 4:00 to get to at least one more place.If you love the history of the great lakes then don't dare miss this museum. Great exhibits, some hands on for kids, working demonstrations and excellent displays on the history of the lakes, the people and ships that sailed them. The tour of the Lakes tanker was cool. We will definitely go back.

Fabulous little museum. It’s really two parts. (1) the more traditional museum, which tells the history of the Great Lakes from their forming in the ice age through to their use as a transport route from pre-European times to the present. Fascinating for non-American visitors like us - who knew there had been so many shipwrecks? (2) the 617-foot iron ore freighter Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship. Amazing to walk all around and over this huge ship, that was the biggest on the Lakes, when launched in 1911.

We visited the museum with some family from out-of-town, and everyone was impressed.

We toured the Col. James M. Schoonmaker, a Great Lakes freighter that was built in 1911, and we were fascinated. The ship was the largest Great Lakes freighter at the time it was built, and it has been partially restored. It was interesting to see the cargo hold and the areas where the crew worked and lived.

Next, we toured the museum and were entertained by the many exhibits there. The museum was much larger and nicer than I was expecting. There were many interactive exhibits, and it was interesting to learn about the history of ships on the Great Lakes, including the Edmund Fitzgerald.

If you are visiting with your family for the first time, make sure you ask about a one-year family membership - it may be less expensive than buying separate, one-day admissions for each member of your family.

If you are visiting the Toledo area and want to experience something you can only see in Toledo, I highly recommend visiting the museum.

What a well done museum. It's small, but packed with info. Eye catching displays with intriguing information. Nice floor layout makes for good traffic flow. Great job!

This is an excellent museum even if you don't think you're interested in the Great Lakes or shipping.

The museum includes a great deal of information on the resources and importance of the Great Lakes as a group and individually. You'll find interesting stories of shipwrecks including some recovered material. Even recovered items from the Edmund Fitzgerald are located inside. I especially liked the section on survival and rescue.

Pay to go aboard the Schoonmaker (not sure I spelled that correctly). It's worth the extra cost and the time. The ship is longer than the nearby Fifth/Third building is tall. There is a self guided tour that is extremely well laid out and includes views of the engine room, galley, living quarters, pilot house, cargo area, and more. You get a real sense of the way that the sailors lived and worked. This is a long tour and includes some steep climbs and descents. Make sure you are wearing good supportive shoes. Also, the ship gets extremely hot and is closed down when the temperature climbs too high. Go early in the morning or check before if you want to tour the ship. There is a AAA discount.

This can be combined with a visit to Tony Packo's on Front Street in the Hungarian neighborhood. It's very near by.

You also get a great view of Toledo's newest and very impressive bridge.

Great museum that is highly recommended.

Lots of interesting information about the many ships of the Great Lakes. Some hands on exhibits inside the museum for kids to enjoy but still interesting enough for the adults. Make sure you pay the extra to go outside and tour the Schoonmaker (Great Lakes Iron Freighter) and The Ohio Tug boat. If you happen to run into Jack, tour guide, listen very carefully. He is a wealth of information. Perfect on a nice day.

Spent about 2 hours at museum and ship which wasn't even enough! A wonderful experience. A must see for anyone visiting the area. Went with friends while staying at Maumee State park lodge.

This is a phenomenal place! Many interactive displays make learning about the Great Lakes and the history very interesting. A "Must See" if you are visiting, or have family and friends visiting. Watched a movie about the Great Lakes, tried on a diving helmet. walked aboard and toured the Schoonmaker. Had a Great Time!

My parents and I visited this museum and the cargo ship on our way through Toledo. I was surprised to be able to get in free as a teacher and was impressed by the amount of interactivity that this museum included. It was highly engaging and I know that my students would have loved it!

We enjoyed learning about the great lakes. The museum displays are modern and visually pleasing. Volunteers are informative and helpful. It was great to visit the Schoonmaker and the Toleo tug.

Great tour of the Schoonover bulk carrier, which in its day was a high tech marvel. Lots of interactive exhibits in the museum. Watch out for the goose droppings on the sidewalk.

We took out of town guests from Micigan to the museum and had a very interesting and informative visit. Very well done and well worth the stop. Much larger than what you would think. Don't miss it!!!

The museum is very good. However, the tour of the tugboat and the great lakes freighter were exceptional. Somehow, we got "adopted" by a volunteer tour guide, Jack, who actually had once worked on the tug boat. He knew everything about both boats and really made our visit go from "interesting" to "fantastic"

We were visiting Toledo and the Great Lakes and happened upon the museum. It was great and the people who led tours of the tugboat and grain hauling ships were very knowledgeable and made it so interesting.

Great trip. We arrived at approximately 11:30 am and made our way towards the entrance of the museum. We bought tickets that included both admission into the museum and the ship. We started our trip by exploring the museum first. There were many informational plaques out for display, that detailed the history of the great lakes and the various forms of shipping that took place. There were many artifacts out for display as well. There was a short movie playing that went over the various great lakes and the trials and tribulations sailors faced while navigating through them. After viewing the museum, we went outside to explore the ship. The tour of the ship was self guided, and we went from room to room, exploring the various spaces. There were informational plaques located in each room, that detailed what we were seeing in front of us.

Tip: I recommend spending 2.5 hours here if you truly want to see everything.

We took our grandkids (7 and 9) and the museum had lots to interest them and us as well! They now have a tug boat to tour as well as the huuuuge cargo ship. All of it was fascinating and informative!

This is a great museum. If you are interested in the Great Lakes and the ships that sail them, this is the place to visit. Give yourself at least an hour and half to check it out. Lots of info and it is hands on museum. There is also a cargo ship, The Col. James Schoonmaker, that you can visit.

Well, I was pleasantly surprised with this museum. I would suggest do the ship tour first especially in the summer as it gets hot quick. After that you can relax and look at the interactive displays/exhibits which to me was surprising. I did not know much about the Great Lakes and now after visiting, I want to know more. I would recommend going lots of information to absorb, so don't let the size of the museum fool you.

This museum exceeded our expectations, the two ships are star attractions. We recommend that you download the app to take the tour. You get a through, in side and out tour of the tug and freighter. There was a person on the tug to answer questions and give some history. The museum itself covered many different aspects of the lakes.

An extensionally interesting and comprehensive nautical museum. It provides great information for anyone even remotely interested in nautical history and the Great Lakes. Perfect for the serious visitor, but provides enough "hands on" exhibits to keep youngsters engaged and fascinated.

One of the most beautifully curated museum with so much to look at and learn about. The fabulous lake freighter that is tied up next to the museum, which is exactly like the Edmund Fitzgerald that sank 50 years ago, is a MUST see, as well as the tug. The freighter is closed for the winter from October 31, to April 30th, so go when it is open, if you can. You will learn so much about the Great Lakes and how important they have been to the development for the midwest. I HIGHLY recommend this museum....and there is a lovely park and big area to walk around outside the museum. There are also things for students to experience....so it has some teaching exhibits as well. DO NOT MISS THIS GEM.

We went on a Sunday afternoon . It wasn't very busy and we roamed around and took everything in. So much information and well presented! Many of ther displays are interactive and it was fun, a great place to take kids too!

I thought this was a one hour stop but ended up spending close to three. Part of that time was in a historic freighter that you can explore thoroughly. Nothing seemed off limits including the engine room, cargo hold, staterooms and steering house.

It was interesting to understand the volume of fresh water in the Great Lakes and see memorabilia, especially the stories of the wrecks like the Edmund Fitzgerald. There was a lot to see but it was well curated so it didn’t feel overwhelming. There were several interactive displays that school aged children would enjoy. There was a photo booth where you and a friend could take a pic and have it superimposed in a historic pic and emailed to yourself for FREE. It was a great idea although the entry touchscreen wasn’t very responsive so it was a little frustrating.

Overall a wonderful museum. Glad I got to see it and close to lunch at Tony Packos!

We spent 3hrs here and could easily have spent more. The museum had a lot to see and some fantastic interactive exhibits. Touring the Schoonmaker (sp?) was incredible. They even had some artifacts from the Edmund Fitzgerald! This was a really really cool museum. The only thing I suggest is skipping the tour of the tugboat. It was about as interesting as touring a pickup truck, especially compared to the Schoonmaker. There are some nice grounds around the museum that are worth exploring and would be good for a picnic as well. IF YOU HAVE A LARGE FAMILY BUY THE MEMBERSHIP IT IS CHEAPER IN ONE VISIT.

This is a wonderful museum that is just chock full of Great lakes history and the freighter is is very cool . Be aware that the museum and ship fees are separate . If you don't already have knowledge of the lakes this may be really exiting or bore you to death. It's not Disneyland,
it's history.

We visited in February - the river was frozen and the lakes freighter SS Col. James M. Schoonmaker was not open, but the displays in the museum were fascinating and very engaging. We spent a couple of hours learning about the history of the great lakes with interesting facts about how these five lakes hold a large percentage of the world's fresh water. We'll visit again during warmer months so we can visit the freighter.

Went to the museum for the first time recently and I was quite surprised at how nice it is. I really am not a big buff of ships and such but it was nice. Everything is displayed very nicely and there are some artifacts from different lake ships. I would definitely recommend this to others and I will be back again sometime in the future. The only draw back was that the lake freighter on display adjacent to the museum was closed for the winter. You can buy a ticket for the museum only, or the museum and the ship, but you cannot just buy a ticket for the ship only, which I think is a negative as I would like to see the ship when it opens in the spring without going to the museum.

A rainy cool October 26 but made it before the museum ship closed for season. WOW! Toured the museum first finding displays neat and well posted. A lot to see. Next on to the ship following yellow arrows from one end to the other and even down under to the holds and engine room. You must be careful and HOLD ON TO THE RAILS to safely do this.Now on to the tug tour which was now closed due to the wind & rain.Allow plenty of time to see all of this museum (2-3 hrs)

Lots of interesting information and history about the Great Lakes. Would have liked to tour the two boats but too much climbing for me.

A hands on Museum, great for all ages, there is so much history here such as the Edmund Fitzgerald. A beautiful restored Laker is permanently docked right outside!

Up front -- if you're going to enjoy this attraction, be prepared to walk a good bit and you'll have to climb some stairs/ladders on their docked freighter.

That said, this was a fun and interesting museum. Lots of great information presented in a straight forward (sometimes interactive) way. The many nuances of the history of the Great Lakes from the ice ages to current times. Artifacts from recent history with well thought out descriptions made the time pass very quickly. A great morning activity that provided a lifetime of memories!!

This is a great museum if you are really into maritime history. Even though I'm not, I still learned a lot. For example, did you know that the Great Lakes are known as our Northern Coast? And that all the Great Lakes are fresh water lakes that are fed by the melting glaciers? It was a good stop with some interactive exhibits.

This was a nice tour of both the museum and the museum ship. You could also tour the coast guard cutter ship. Parking is free and you could probably spend about two hours easily here. Lots of information to take in and learn about the Great Lakes and the ship. The museum gives you a stylus to push the buttons with on the displays so you can still be interactive with them. We have noticed that during the Covid pandemic that a lot of museums have just taken these exhibits out and you cannot use them. This really takes away from the whole experience of the exhibits. With using the stylus you can still see and do everything which is nice to have something “normal”.
The walk up the gang plank of the James M. Schoonmaker Museum is quite a steep ramp, both up and down so it could be difficult for older people, young children or people with trouble walking. There are also many ladder type steps throughout the ship to navigate. However, both are great self-guided tours so you are able to take as much time as you want visiting, reading and taking photos.

Made a stop here on our way from Cleveland to dearborn and was greatly surprised at how interesting it was. Cost to get in was very low. Planned on spending an hour here and spent three hours instead. A tour of the cargo carrier is a must if you have the time.

This small museum offers a lot. Clambering over and around a huge lake freighter (and blowing the fog horn) was great for us adults. You explore the boat at your own pace with a self-guided tour as part of the museum admission. There are plenty of descriptions and explanations available and you can skim over or learn a lot depending on what catches your interest. The indoor museum exhibits were well designed and engaging - a mix of videos, artifacts, reading and interactive experiences about all the Great Lakes. We visited on a rainy August weekday and it kept 3 adults occupied for 2+ hours. We are all lifelong residents of the Great Lakes but we all learned something new and gained a better appreciation of how great the lakes truly are. If you are in the Toledo area, it is well worth a stop.

What a great job these folks have done in saving a bit of history for us. We purchased a membership after seeing a half-off promo and it was money well-spent. The museum is beautiful - a feeling of new & modern yet able to capture the past in easy to read displays. My husband enjoyed the hands-on exhibit where you can get the feeling of what it would be like to explore a sunken freighter (the Edmond Fitzgerald). We toured the enormous freighter docked next to the museum and spoke with a friendly volunteer for several minutes as he answered our questions and shared a little bit of his passion for this project. I liked seeing pictures of the rooms in the freighter as they looked back in the day while we walked through those same rooms today.

Great introduction of a big part of our country and history. The many exhibits cover the history the ships and uses of these waters. Films and interactive exhibits are great for the whole family. I only wish the ship outside was open for the season. Wonderful views of Toledo too.

This museum on the Maumee River across from downtown Toledo is loaded with family activities plus a Great Lakes Freighter to explore. Excellent for all ages.

The museum is easy to locate and offers lots of history about the Great Lakes region. It provides some hands on experiences along with lots of good pictures. The introductory movie was an excellent way to begin the tour of the museum.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this very well-done museum. We were impressed with the presentation of the displays, history and artifacts. We also loved the self-guided tour of the ship. We highly recommend a visit to this high-quality museum.

We have been here numerous times, and it never gets old. There is so much Great Lakes history - anyone who is interested in shipwrecks are aware of the Carl D. Bradley, the Daniel J. Morrell, and of course, the Edmund Fitzgerald. Their gift shop is top-notch with the best books, including the brand new 50th anniversary story of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I highly recommend this place and look forward to returning yet again.

There were some fun interactive exhibits in the museum proper and my 11yr old loved them. The exhibits were very interesting and informative. The best piece was touring the cargo ship from the lakes. To see inside the hold, engine room and crews quarters was really fascinating. Would recommend it.

We wondered arround the Doc's at Toledo's East side and ran into this fantastic Maritime Museam. We ended up spending an entire afternoon amazed! The exhibets were so interesting and the videos just begged you to interact. . We watched movies and tested and played with everything it offered. This place will Not Disappoint! Kudos to all who had a part in bring this to Toledo, Ohio!

Always a good day when i can spend it on a ship. Really enjoyed my visit. The museum is interesting with lots of interactive exhibits and

This museum is definitely something to see! I was especially interested in touring freighter, as was my husband. I'm not a huge boat fanatic, but it was something else!! The museum itself was very nice, lots of interesting displays, and good for kids as well, with interactive set-ups. Will return!!

We were attracted by a Sunday newspaper ad announcing a holiday event. We dropped in and had a wonderful afternoon. We found it to be informative and educational. Nicely organized--logical progression through the exhibits.

I first visited this ship many years ago with my grandfather who had worked on the ship in the 70's. My most recent visit was just as memorable as the first. The ship has been renovated and most parts are open for free exploration. The engine room, bunks, holds and most of the upper deck are all nicely labeled with facts and when we were there there was also an expert roaming and answering any and all questions we had. The museum itself is great for the young and old. There are a lot of hands on activities such as a sub-simulator to visit the wreck or the Edmund Fitzgerald, using a metal detector and loading and hauling rubber pieces of "coal". The displays are very neat, well labeled and easy to navigate. There is a very fascinating video to watch right when you enter. On the day we went the staff was extremely helpful and kind, parking was convenient and we had a great experience.

What a great museum! Really informative and full of great, pertinent information. We also got to go on the large freighter the Schoonmaker. This was a great experience and you got to see how the ship worked. We had Don, a volunteer, to ask our questions and he was very knowledgeable. Definitely make a trip to Toledo to see this museum!

I had guest from out of town that had never seen a lake freighter. They enjoyed this experience and as always I enjoyed.

The displays are very informative and interactive. They charge it up every so often and add displays. The new Tug is going to be a welcome addition. My 12 year old Grandson never tires of going there.

Learned so much about the lakes - all 5. Nice museum with lots of stuff, much hands on. We should protect these lakes. The ship outside Interesting also. Ever gave much thought before about the crews on these ships and how they lived

This museum is amazing! It is full of interesting exhibits and artifacts. It is clean and laid out very well. The lake freighter, Col. James M. Schoonmaker, is docked permenantly there, on the Maumee River next to the museum. The docents aboard the freighter are very knowledgable and helpful. A lot to look at and read while on board. **Don't miss reading about the length of the Schoonmaker and the length of lake freighters today...impressive! I believe it was at hatch 6. The museum has a nice gift shop and plenty of restrooms. We will definitely return and spend more time here on our next trip to Ohio.

Ever since it was announced this museum would be relocating to Toledo I was looking for an opportunity to visit. It has taken several years and is in my opinion well worth it. As someone who loves the Great Lakes (heritage, history and activities) I am very pleased with the way the exhibits convey the long colorful history of a region overlooked by a large portion of our country. In my opinion the staff did a great job of prioritizing the use of limited space - instead of making the mistake of cramming too much material into the limited space. I did not have an opportunity to explore the lake freighter attached to the museum. The lake freighter is decorated in its original colors - when it was owned by Cleveland Cliffs. In my opinion a trip here combined with visits of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in the U.P and a local history Museum in Billings township on Manitoulin Island would provide different takes on the Great Lakes region not as well high lighted at larger museums.

If you are passing through Toledo, this is a very well thought out museum. You can spend one to two hours here and learn the history of the lakes and shipping.

I honestly was not expecting much when we visited. I had bought a discounted admission, knowing if we were disappointed, it wouldn't be a huge money loss. We were very impressed. The amount of information provided about all the Great Lakes was phenomenal. Our kids really enjoyed all the interactive exhibits and would've stayed for hours if we would have let them. We can't wait to go back in the spring when the ship is opened back up for the season.

We went with two of our Grandkids (7 and 5 ) and had a terrific adventure, the kids were very impressed with all the interactive exhibits, as was I, and the staff was absolutely excellent. :)