Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum Reviews

Stopped in bay city Michigan on our way around the thumb of
Michigan. Saw this naval museum and thought we should take it in. So thankful we did. The uss edson A destroyer of the American navy from the mid fifties until the mid eighties was truly a amazing experience to take in The Edson saw action through tour the entire Vietnam war and saw much action Her scars are still prevalent We met two retired sailers. Bill Randall and Eric Engen Both of these true gentleman left an everlasting memory with us. Bills knowledge of the ship and maritime life was informative engaging and always with levity. He made it relatable and fun Erica generosity of his time volunteering on the ship and his gifts to us were very touching. His commitment to restoring the ship is honestly. Nothing less than inspiring. The Edson s story is full of adventure and valour I would recommend folks to come and take in this old girls story and if you have the fortunate opportunity to walk with one of the volunteers I would suggest you do. You will never forget it Thank you Bill and Eric and thank you USS Edson for keeping us all safe

Went here in April for self guided tour. Very interesting and we could spend as much time as we needed inside and out pride the ship. Very well maintained and information along the route explaining things. Would be nice to have guided tour but can understand if you have that and more than say five people on a tour, you may have a hard time hearing what the guide would be saying. Be sure to check this out, old and young alike will enjoy touring this ship. You will not be disappointed!

We toured the USS Edson, DD946, and really enjoyed it. As a former crew member during the Vietnam War ('71-'72) I was encouraged by how much quality restoration and/or preservation has occurred. Kudos to all those dedicated people who've contributed so much time and effort. Go Navy!

Served onboard the USS Edson from 1979-81 so it was a trip down memory lane to visit the old girl for the second time since I'd walked off the brow in Newport, RI. Was so glad to see that Bay City rescued her from moth balls in Philadelphia and was restoring her with the help of many dedicated volunteers and former shipmates. The trailer staff where you buy your tickets and can buy souvenir items was extremely friendly and a joy to talk old sea stories with. They provide a brochure you can use to guide your self guided tour though there are people there who can show you around the ship if you inquire about it. My wife and I had a great time touring the ship again and seeing how she was being restored to her former beauty. This is a great place for family and kids to visit. A must see for Navy veterans and anyone looking for a fun activity.

We had a great time aboard the USS Edson! We got a great tour from Bill who is exceptionally knowledgeable about the ship, we learned so much! This is a must-see attraction in the Bay Area, I highly recommend this to everyone!!

My Dad served on the USS Kalk during WWII that was bombed. I always wanted to see a destroyer so since I was in the area I decided to tour it. It was to my delight that Bill was on board to give me a tour and showed and explained so much to me even though it was not the exact same ship. It was both emotional and educational for me and I am so thankful that there is history saved for us. Thank you again Bill.

The Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum is a slightly off the beaten path museum in downtown Bay City which if you follow the suggestion of the museum to find it you'll locate it easily. This old destroyer is a sight to behold although the parking to get to her isn't easiest to find. There are 2 huge concerns I have with this museum, though. The first is with the rising levels of the great lakes & Saginaw Bay while there is a walkway to get to the museum I'm not sure how much longer it'll be above water. The parking lot itself was showing signs of flooding from the nearby river. The biggest issue I have with this museum is the fact that as a visitor you are pretty much given free reign over where you go aboard her. This ship is very large & there were a few times when I honestly felt like I was lost aboard her & could very easily have found ways that people could've hidden aboard her & no one would have realized it. The tour brochure does suggest a route, but that is not laid out at all in an orderly fashion which doesn't help. I'd also be concerned if I had small children who potentially could get into places they shouldn't have. Overall, while I'll gladly come back to visit this museum in the future, I think I'll arrange for a tour just to prevent the disorientation I felt aboard this piece of both Michigan & US history.

There were a couple of knowledgeable people on the ship that were able to answer many of our questions. Also there are written plaques throughout the ship that explained many things. If you have trouble climbing steep stairs, your tour may be limited.

Loved visiting an old navel vessel. Spent two years on one back in 1958 - 1960. Great to see the Bay City folks restoring this part of history.

I visited this ship last week. Knowledgeable volunteers handed out brochures, indicated direction of self-guided tour. Viewed crews quarters, bridge,galley, etc. Roped-off areas were obvious to even children on the tour, but a middle age couple climbed under ropes more than once, even after staff indicated these were not designated areas. Rude, thoughtless people took this tour and were escorted off the ship! Can you believe the nerve?
We were so angry that somebody would climb into dangerous areas and possibly ruin self-guided tours for everybody in the future!! We were glad these people were told to leave! The guardians of this piece of U.S history are really invested to keep it intact and safe for all.
Price is very reasonable and $$ goes towards upkeep.
I highly recommend a tour for older children and adults, all who are interested in nautical things and our history. It is said to be haunted by spirits of the crew long ago...

We received a good tour of the ship from one of the veteran volunteers. Interesting to see the cramped living conditions for the sailors during the cold war and Vietnam. The USS Edson was brought to Bay City by a very dedicated group to serve as a Navel Museum. If you have never been on a warship, it is well worth seeing.

Highly recommend a visit to the USS Edson, to everyone. This is a close up look of a ship that was part of the Vietnam war. There are only 2 ships like this left. Our group of 8 had a wonderful guide, Pete, he made the tour extremely interesting. Everywhere you look there is something to see and learn about. The size of the sleeping bunks, the way water was cleaned, how the power of the ship had various back-up systems to keep the ship running at all times. We saw the very steep ladders used by the sailors on the ships, the mess hall, and shower room. He showed us how the ammunition was assembled as it was loaded.
Sorry about my rambling, take the time to visit this very interest slice of our history!

Amazing piece of history. The tour was absolutely amazing. The smell of the engine room brought back so many memories. Bill made the tour come to life for us. God bless this ship and her crew.

This was a very fun adventure. The self-guided tour is difficult to follow, so we pretty much just wandered around. There was a lot of neat things to see, and a good amount of signs explaining what different things were. It really is a museum, and not just a ship; It's got a bunch of displays mixed in with the equipment of the ship. It's definitely a fun little side-trip if you're in the area.

We were lucky enough to meet a veteran that had actually served on this ship and he gave us a personal tour. He explained the workings of the ship as well as day to day life on the ship which made our visit so interesting knowing we were getting first hand information. His pride in the vessel and the time he spent on it was very obvious. Wonderful experience!

We explored the ship, it was a self guided tour, I think we saw everything that we could see. It was interesting to see how little private area each sailor had. I enjoyed the ship, and was surprised that a Navy ship was available to see in Michigan. All of the staff were very relaxed. The google map showed us right were to go, something was mentioned about the GPS leading you astray, but we did not have that problem. The gift shop was very small. It said the self guided tour would take 2 hours, I think it took us closer to 1 hour, but the tour is self guided.

This is a very interesting and worthy stop. One does not get an accurate idea of just how massive these ships are until you are on one. It is a bit humbling to briefly touch on what our Naval Servicemen/women call work and home while on deployment. I would not recommend this for smaller children or those who have trouble walking as there are many trip hazards and some climbing of very narrow stairs. Will definitely return with my grandson when he is of an appropriate age.

The USS Edson is a carefully maintained Naval destroyer with knowledgeable guides and caretakers. They have built easy access to board and have a trailer that is a mini museum and gift shop. They have many different options for different groups including overnight sleep overs. This ship played an important role in the Vietnam War and I probably share some common water in the South China Sea when I was flying off an aircraft carrier guarded by these ships. They also providing important rescues when planes crashed into the sea and supporting artillery fire to ground troops under attack. It is an important piece of history and is an impressive backdrop for Memorial Day and Veteran Day ceremonies. Many lives depended on these brave boats.

If you're a fan of military ships then it's a must stop.
Although I would have put it in a more people-trafficked area of the river.

Recently boarded this ship. Don't understand why local schools don't take classes there for field trips. Not far to travel and they would benefit from it. Keep roots in Bay City. For out of town visitors this is a unique stop. Bay City has a lot to offer, the ship, the museum, state park recreation area...

If you have the time to study some American history, this is the place to go! The USS Edson is a Vietnam era destroyer that saw service during the Vietnam war. Wonder what it's like to live and work aboard a war ship? You will not be disappointed. There are several extremely qualified veterans on duty to take you on tours through most of the ship and answer all your questions, while sharing their experience about this ship or one of its sister vessels. Thinking about joining the Navy? Visit this ship, see how they worked and lived and you'll get a better appreciation of what those fine troops experience day to day on he open seas. Well worth your time and small donation to view an important part of American history.

Pretty good access to many parts of the ship. If you like to climb around and just look at stuff, then you would enjoy the experience. However, the museum suffers from horrible directions included with the self guided tour. More directional signage (turn here, go there) is needed. I finally gave up and just wandered around. It's easy to get lost. While there is some signage that tells you what the room you are looking at was used for, more is needed. Lots of historical stuff, posted everywhere, I guess because they had it and needed a place to show it. But the stuff they posted had no rhyme or reason. A volunteer historian could sure help the team come up with a better plan. I have visited other retired military vessels that were much better organized.

It was a really learning experience of how life at sea in a navy vessel can be, small and terrifying at time while also very intense and active.

We stopped by to check out the "Grey Ghost" and really enjoyed walking around and learning about the ship and its history. One of a kind attraction in Michigan and I will be returning soon for another visit.

We loved the opportunity to tour the ship and learn about its history, especially the day to day life of its passengers. Lots to see here and it will take you hours to truly see everything. It's self guided, but one of the gentleman was giving a small tour- and he actually was on the ship. This was an amazing peek into life on the ship and how that was orchestrated. Truly a great experience

It was a great tour of an amazing vessel. The displays were informative and poignant. It was a good history lesson for all age groups,

The ship was moved last month to its permanent location, on the north bank of the river by Independence Bridge. More of the ship is open now. I even got a private tour by the committee Chairman.

They hold ceremonies on the ship now also.

A very friendly Group of volunteers working very hard to restore the USS Edson.
Tours of the ship are conducted by knowledgable volunteers.

I am one of the volunteers on the EDSON. This piece of history should not be ignored...She is an historical Ship that was THE most active ship in Vietnam. I will personally take you on a tour, so plan on at least two hours. This Gem is an absolute must see!

What a great find, we booked a self paced tour online expecting to explore a ship. Little did we know Bill a navy veteran was there and willing to give us a tour around the ship. He explained every room and what it was used for, he showed us the horn and just really did a great job going into detail about the ship and it’s history. If you are ever in bay city and want to visit something of historical value and have a good time this is the place to go.

This is an absolutely amazing piece of history! The stories that go along with it make it that much more interesting. Bill was an excellent source of information, seeing as he served on the ship itself. If given the chance ask for bill as a tour guide!

I loved the historical aspect of the Naval Ship called "The Phantom of the Vietnam War". The ship was hit and the Vietnamese listed it as sunk. It crept into the Philliphines to be fixed, and were they shocked when it sailed the Vietnamese shoreline again! Tickets about $10, which helps with the restoration. Tours, into the nooks & crannies. See bunks, mess hall, radio room, etc. Very well done.

Amazing piece of history. The ship is set up perfect for viewing and learning. Met Bill today and he was the perfect tour guide. I will go back, it’s definitely worth additional visits and I highly recommend this museum on the water!

We were lucky to put together a group of Scouts and had the beat time discovering so many little facts about this piece of history. They do not get any help to keep this destroyer so all they collect goes to maintain and keep it open. It’s a wonderful window to how things used to be 60+ years ago.

During these times of patriotism issues is places like this that reaffirm why we support our troops and honor our flag. This is a great museum and packed with a lot of history. The people that work the ship are knowledgeable and friendly. The time we wnt they were seeing up for Halloween ghost tour.

This trip was for my husband & his buddy as they were in the Navy. It was fun listening to them talk of the ‘good ole dayz’. I enjoyed this tour, especially as I could go at my own pace. There were quite a few ladders to climb & go down, so if you have bad knees, I’d rethink the tour. It is amazing to see this ole gal & see what she’s been thru & survives STILL. Thank you for your service.

Had the opportunity to visit the USS Edson. I just began exploring the ship and I was joined by a tour guide Bill Randall. Bill had served on the Edson during the Vietnam war and had first hand experience and knowledge of the ship which he shared with me. The experience was rewarding in insightful in seeing the technology of the time, and the conditions the sailors had to work must have been daunting. I found the tour was a great experience and would highly recommend it to anyone.

I went to the ship as a small vacation and it was anything but small. Admissions into the ship was very reasonable. We ran into a veteran named eric who gave an amazing tour. Eric gave us so much information on the ship and life in the navy. He gave a grand tour and I would recommend the USS Edson to any family looking for an inexpensive but amazing mini vacation. As a sixteen year old it was able to hold my attention for over three hours.

If you love history and/or museums of any kind, this is a great place to visit. It was super affordable and self guided. My only advice is that if you visit in colder months, bundle up because it’s super cold on the ship!

This is a wonderful stop, the volunteers who work this ship are amazing, you will not be disappointed. The ship has lots of history, be part of preserving our Naval heritage.

Drove to Bay City from Frankenmuth just to visit and tour the Edson with my wife, daughter and two grandsons (15 & 17) and get a glimse of what life was like on board this WW II Destroyer. It was well worth the trip.

We paid a visit to the USS Edson for a birthday outing yesterday. Our tour guide, Bill was wonderful! Bill walked us through and provided excellent insight into life abound the destroyer-particularly war time living. He was very knowledgeable and quite entertaining! We loved it and will absolutely be back!

It was an awesome experience. We were lucky enough to have Bill as a tour guide. (You can tour on your own) He was amazing and a wealth of knowledge. Truly made us understand what it was like to be at sea on the destroyer. THANK YOU BILL!

USS Edson was a member of the first class of destroyers built after WWII. The Forrest Shermans were well armed gun platforms with three 5-inch and four 3-inch guns (Today's Arleigh Burke-class destroyers only have one 5-inch gun by comparison) as well as six torpedo launchers - however, they lacked the missiles of more modern warships. Edson spent much of her operational life in the Pacific with several tours off Vietnam during the SEA conflict - mainly supporting carrier operations, but also conducting a fair amount of shore bombardments supporting ground troops. She apparently came under fire on a couple of occasions, being hit by a North Vietnamese shore battery once and by apparently friendly fire from the U.S. Air Force on another occasion. She later participated in the evacuations of Phnom Penh and Saigon as Cambodia and South Vietnam fell, respectively, in 1975. Continued peacetime service followed until her decommissioning in 1988 by which time she was the last all-gun destroyer in the U.S. Navy. She served as a museum ship in New York City for fifteen years before replaced by a Concorde airliner at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. Following a few years in storage, she became a museum ship again at her present home in Bay City, Michigan.

We visited her early on a weekday morning just as she was opening for the day - indeed we had the ship all to ourselves for the hour that it took us to tour all of her open spaces. Basically, she's open from stem to stern from the signal deck down into the engine room covering officer and enlisted living spaces, radio room, combat information center, kitchen, galley, bridge, sick bay, barber shop, laundry, gun mounts, etc.,etc.

The tour is self-guided with both a handout guide and signage aboard ship marking the various stops and providing information about each space's function. Arrows show the path to be followed. Along the way are a lot of artifacts, photos, etc. from the history of Edson as well as the Navy and Marine Corps as a whole (for example there's a lot of information on the ship's namesake, USMC Gen. Merritt "Red Mike" Edson, including a diorama of the Battle of Edson's Ridge for which he earned the Medal of Honor during the Guadalcanal campaign in World War II).

We enjoyed ourselves and felt the $10 admission (for adults) was a good deal.

This was a wonderful site to visit! Most GPS units will not get you there due to some perminent road construction that closed off Martin St. at the bridge. Google Maps will find it if you search "USS Edson". The website says the address is 1680 Martin St. however, the entrance is located at the intersection of Harry S. Truman Pkwy & Marquette Ave. We did the self guided tour and had access to a lot of areas. Due to tight corridors & steep verticle ladders there were some areas that were Off Limits to visitors for safety concerns but that did not take away from the tour. It was very interesting. Volunteers that served on the USS Edson were standing by to answer any questions that we had. If you are a Military/ Ship buff it's a Must See. I like Ships! Never served, but very thankful to our Veterans for their service.

My boyfriend and I absolutely enjoyed every second of our experience on the U.S.S. Edson! We weren't expecting to spend more than an hour or so there, but our fantastic tour guide, Bill, gave us a 3-hour experience that blew our minds! We drove about an hour and a half for this particular tour, and we don't regret it at all. I highly recommend taking time out of your day to learn a little more about what the Navy did for our country!

My son and I toured the ship on a Monday in the early afternoon and thus we almost had the ship to ourselves. My son age 19, loved exploring the ship and poking around at our own place. I have MS thus walk with a cane and mobility can be an issue sometimes. The upper deck is curved thus makes for uneven footing which can feel like you are walking a tightrope with MS but with my son steadying me I made it across it. There are ladders and I did better with those, just took me a bit longer than an abled bodied person would. Not wheelchair accessible but you wouldn't expect it to be. To others that walk with a cane, it is doable still... just go slow at your own pace and have someone with you in case you need a bit of help.

I would watch young children very closely as there are places they could fall and get hurt. Would recommend one adult per child to be safe. My young nephew had toured the ship and loved it with his parents him passing him up and down the ladders with one parent at the top reaching down to the parent at the bottom. There was a large trailer parked nearby with a spectacular collection of toy fire trucks that was included in the price to tour the ship. A Navy veteran was attending the cash register and was very helpful with questions. A good time!

We chose a morning self tour of the ship. Wish now we would have had a guided tour with someone knowledgeable of the ship and all that history of it. There was a school bus tour there so we tried to stay clear of their group which we were able to do for the most part. It is amazing how the sailors lived on that ship. Also, we were amazed at the power that battle ship had with it's guns and torpedo's. The size quarter's the sailors had were so small. I know they had to be small, but I was very surprised just how small. That was quite the eye opener. While in Bay City, MI we do recommend stopping by and touring this amazing battle ship, called USS Edson who's nickname was The Grey Ghost of the Vietnamese Coast. Not on the ship, but at a trailer sitting at water's edge is the office where you get your ticket to board the Edson and also has a gift shop and restrooms as well. The retired servicemen that work there are very knowledgeable about the ship and very friendly.

Bill gave us a great tour of the ship with lots of great information and stories. The grown ups enjoyed it throughly. It was a lot of walking for our 4 kids and a little warm for them but they did good and enjoyed seeing different parts of the ship and ringing the ships loud bell. It was a great place to visit Father's Day weekend.

The USS Edson was heavily involved in fighting in the Vietnam War. Now you can walk her corridors, sit on the bridge and see the inner workings.
This ship is being restored by volunteers so it’s not in perfect condition but a work in progress.
We so enjoyed taking our time and not only reading all the information but talking with some of the volunteers to get more information.
There is access to almost every area on the ship. Beware of original, steep stairs!
There is also a small gift shop with interesting souvenirs. Including hand made monkey fists. (A naval term for a weight used in replenishment).
I highly recommend visiting this floating museum!

This was a great experience. We met two men who actually served on this ship in active duty, one of who was on it when it was hit. It gives one a great appreciation for those who served; not exactly a life of luxury.

My fiancé and I visited the USS Edson this weekend. We expected to spend about an hour on the ship, but we stayed for over two and a half hours. A good portion of the ship is open to self-guided tours. One of the guides, Bill, saw us and offered to walk us through the rest of the ship. Definitely go for the guided tour! Bill served on a ship similar to the Edson and introduced us to Bruce, who actually served on the Edson. Together they answered our questions, told us stories about their time serving, joked around with us, and explained what life was like living on a ship for four years during Vietnam. It was a genuine pleasure!

I enjoyed taking my time to see it all. Just really close quarters! The men on these ships had no creature comforts to speak of!

The USS Edson is a perfect example of a navy destroyer active during the middle of the 20th century. It was also featured in the Twilight Zone episode, "The Thirty Fathom Grave", in the 1960s. It is an interesting ship and is worth visiting.

The $10 we paid for our self guided tour was so worth it. The volunteers at the gate/gift shop were so helpful since they are naval veterans. I'm a larger woman but I had very little problem touring this historical gem. There is a lot of climbing up stairs and motified ladders. I'm glad I wore comfortable walking shoes. And there is no AC, but the breezes off the river were refreshing. I came away with a new respect for the men who lived&fought on ships like these.

The ship horn and the upper deck experience was spectacular..had a great time... amazing experience...l liked the turbine room...gives a glimpse into the life of sailor... respect

This was a really fun experience for both my twelve year old son and I. We were able to tour the entire ship, plus look at many models and pictures of other ships. It was great!

What a great way to spend a Sunday! We were looking for something for our 16 year old and we all ended up having fun. I recommend searching for Bill, the volunteer who guided us through the entire ship. His anecdotes, personal experience stories and knowledge kept us enthralled for over 2 hours.
We can't wait to go back in October when the entire ship is turned into a "haunted ship"

The ship and its history were amazing. Thanks to Carla who greeted us, and Bill who gave us a great tour!

The USS Edson is a work in progress and the displays are changing as more and more work is done on the ship. I've toured it twice now and there's always something new to see. It should be noted that because of it's very nature this is not a tour for those requiring assistive devices for mobility..

I was so overwhelmed at how many components go into a naval ship. I'm very glad we did the tour. It is a self directed tour so you need to keep track of which way you've gone so that you don't miss anything. It's such an important piece of history and I'm so glad they brought it to Bay City to share with the general public.

Mỹ partner has wanted to tour this ship all summer and we finally got to see it. Since he is a Navy vet who served in Vietnam on a destroyer similar to this one, I had my own tour guide. However, with all the plaques, memorabilia, signs and descriptions throughout the ship a self-guided tour would be very informative. Everyone we spoke to, affiliated with the museum, was friendly, helpful and generous with their time. We'll worth seeing!

My husband and I went on a self-guided tour of the USS Edson. He served in the Navy as a boiler tech, and we visit any ships that are nearby when we travel. This was one of my favorites. Fascinating history, and as we walked through, I could picture what it would be like on a naval ship. So proud of those who serve, and have served.

Very informative staff and volunteers at the USS Edson. This ship is a piece of our Naval History and the Museum has done a great job of getting this ship to Bay City Michigan for al of us in Mid Michigan to enjoy. Lots of history displayed through out the ship and in the office set up on shore.

What an experience! A piece if history with so many stories on board. Pretty much free range of the ship. Alot of great period artifacts! Will never forget this visit!!

We took my friends' child to visit USS Edson when we were in Bay City area. This naval ship museum is all about this grey ghost of the Vietnamese coast. It's surprised me that how big of this ship is and it took us more than an hour to walk through. The bouts point was to watch large cargo ship passing by the bridge.

It was AWESOME! Such a view into
History. So delighted with the self guided tour and could really poke in and around and discover. The curator was quite friendly and told us a number of intriguing stories. Highly entertained!

I am a Navy vet of the era of this ship. First it is $10 a person. The ship is a work in progress as a museum. It is well worth the visit to see what life is and was aboard small US Navy combat ships. We have a very enjoyable visit and the volunteers provided some background. The ship was build in 1958 and decommissioned in about 1984. Some equipment is missing, but it is a good chance to see where sailors work and lived.

The U.S.S. Edson is a decommissioned United States Navy destroyer berthed at Bay City, Michigan. The destroyer is in the same class as the one my husband served on from 1971-1973 (the U.S.S. Forrest Sherman, which has been scrapped). He enjoyed exploring the different areas of the ship but mentioned the layout was different from the one he served on. His theory was, even though the two ships were in the same class, the Edson was built after his ship and they made improvements based on feedback from the Sherman.

The tour is self-guided and illustrates very well the conditions for our sailors stationed on destroyers. If you have never toured one, you may be amazed at the tight quarters. You will see the enlisted quarters, officers' quarters, common areas, and engine rooms on the main and lower decks. The upper deck had the bridge (which I did not visit for reasons below).

The ladders between the decks were narrow and steep; I toured the main deck and the lower deck with my husband, but he ascended two more ladders to the deck with the bridge without me. Anyone with mobility or balance issues, or fear of heights might find this tour challenging.

Must see if going to Bay City. This ship is living history and a tribute to the men and women who served aboard her and in the Viet Nam war. Tour guides very knowledgeable and some served aboard her.

You get to explore almost all of the ship, you can take all the time you would like. Experience what it was like for the sailors to move around in all the tight areas.

We did a tour with Bill. We learned so much and had fun, too! The Edson is a great way to learn about history. This ship is one of the two last of its kind, it was an honor to be able to see it.

What an amazing experience! We were awed at what those young men did for their country. Bill was an extraordinary tour guide, as he himself served on this ship. I would highly recommend anyone to take this tour to see an incredible piece of history that many of us didn’t even know existed. Thank you all for your service.

Nice to tour the "Gray Ghost of the Vietnamese Coast". My husband served aboard this ship in the early 70's. Yes, she needs a lot of work and a lot of things have changed aboard her, but still a privilege to be able to see and tour her!! We hope to take some time and join a work crew in the future. This was a long time in coming to Bay City, welcome USS Edson, DD946. Thank you to the dedicated men and women who made this happen and volunteer their time!

What an assume experience. We had a tour of the ship and then had the ship for the night for ghost hunting and it was the best experience ever. Bill was our tour guide and his knowledge and kindness was amazing. What an honor to experience our history and from someone who was part of it. This is a must see, don’t miss it!

Great visit. Wandered all over the ship with a volunteer who had actually served on the ship during the Vietnam war.

My husband and I began a self guided tour of the USS Edson, and bumped into Mr. Bill Randall, who happens to be a volunteer on this very ship. He offered to show us around, and we had our own guided tour, gaining access to parts of the ship that are normally restricted from view. Bill was very friendly and generously shared his time and knowledge of this and other military ships. I highly recommend this tour. Make sure to bring some coins for the wishing well. 😊

They are just fixing this ship up. My sister and I went and it was interesting...brought back my Navy days.

The ship was very interesting. We were lucky to "tag along" with someone who had been on that ship, so we learned a lot. It was pretty easy to get around (we have hip & knee issues to consider). The ship was clean (no mustiness). There was a lot of information provided by placard. It is self guided, so you can make it a short trip or a little longer, depending on the time you have available. Overall, I'd go again.

The U.S.S. Edson is permanently docked in Bay City Mi. you can walk the decks of this destroyer and learn Naval History. Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum - Bay City Michigan.I took my ten year old grandson with me to visit this incredible ship. We walked the decks and had opportunities to learn a lot of Naval History from the incredible guides volunteering at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum –U.S.S. Edson every guide we met were American Veterans real American Heroes.
The History of this U.S. destroyer ( U.S.S. EDSON ) is amazing it makes you proud of the great men that were stationed on this ship in Vietnam and other conflicts.
I highly recommend visiting this American treasure if your ever in the Bay City Michigan area.

We recently took our grandsons , ages 11 and 7, to Bay City to tour this retired Navy destroyer. We explored the whole ship and had a great time sharing this attraction with them. It took us about an hour or so to see everything,stopping for lots of photo ops with them. A great memory for them and for us. Worth the time to see.

The volunteer tour guide (Bill R) made this tour fantastic. He formerly served on a same class of ship and told us many stories that made the ship come alive. Thanks so much for your time. This is definitely a hidden gem.

On our family vacation we stopped for about a 2-3 hour tour. Well worth it. We didnt call ahead and figured we would just have a self guided tour. A pamphlet we were handed would've given us fair direction. Instead a volunteer named Bill Randall got our attention on board. He donated his time and efforts over 2 hours to personally show my family the ship, take us places we otherwise wouldn't see and tell us stories we otherwise wouldn't hear. If you ever go do yourself a favor and call ahead and ask if Bill will be around. Our 6 and 9 year olds loved it.

I'm glad that they saw fit to preserve this fine fighting ship for folks to visit. It was a self-guiding tour on board the destroyer, and our family were the only ones on the ship at the time. We ranged high and low, fore and aft, poking into all the unique compartments and engineering spaces that were allowed to us. It was grand! Very well preserved and maintained. The nearby gift shop is quite nice to browse, too! I can recommend this tour to anybody with a lively interest, and to ex-Navy personnel in particular.

This gives us all the adventure of being on a real Navy ship. You get to tour the ship and see all the places where seamen lived their lives. The galley to the bathrooms are all there. At a nominal cost you get a one in a lifetime adventure.

Our family is very interested in world war II history. This Ship is a reminder of what the previous generation did for us. The tours for the ship are very interesting and cover every section of the ship. This is considered a smaller ship from the pacific fleet. I cannot imagine what the larger ones are like. The city uses this museum ship for all families, and various school groups.

The naval ship museum is a good collection of the local history of the ships produced in Bay City, Michigan. You can actually tour the entire ship. The staff was very helpful and if you ask any questions, the staff was very knowledgable.

The Destroyer USS Edson nickname was “Grey Ghost of the Vietnamese Coast” & served 30 years from 1958 to 1988. She delivered more firepower to the enemy than any other destroyer & thus received the commendation name “Top Gun”. She carries three 5” guns plus other capabilities for anti submarine warfare, etc. Allow at least 90 minutes for a tour as 95’% of the ship is available for your visit. She is over 400 feet long and 45 feet wide & had a crew complement of 17 Officers & 218 men. She is anchored in the Saginaw River as the primary purpose of the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum about 5 minutes drive from downtown Bay City. The staff at the Information - Tickets - Gift Shop were very helpful & knowledgeable. Website ussedson.org. Open for tours from March 1 through December 20, seven days a week; admission is $10.

It's a neat piece of history. Self guided tour is nice so you can just wander the ship at your own pace. There was some wasps that should be taken care of but definitely worth the stop.

Walkabout Tour of a real Destroyer DD class. Ship has been restored to its prior appearance at least enough to bring to life for kids the way it was in 1966 off the coast of South Vietnam.

For a town that built so many ships for the US Navy not to have one tied up along the pier is unthinkable. So Mike & Mary Kegley (sailors) & their compatriots wheedled, beleaguered. badgered and FINALLY after all their blood, sweat & tears got Uncle Sam to turn loose one of his Navy Ships! They're working on it as we speak & it's a fine addition to the Bay City Harbor. It will get better every year as the loyal crews continue their loving attentions. Makes you proud to be a Sailor!

We spent a cold & rainy afternoon on the USSEdson and had a wonderful time! Bill, our tour guide, was informative & humorous. He made the history of the Edson come alive with the stories he told.

The Edson Incident (halloween haunted ship experience) is currently happening on the weekends and would be another fun Way to explore this ship!

Well worth the admission price!

Very interesting display. We arrived when it wasn’t very busy and was offered a guided tour. Our guide was great, very informative. The ship is a very important part of our history. Well worth the time.

The USS Edson is a naval destroyer built in the 1950s and served in the Vietnam War. This museum is frequently not listed as a sight to see and for instance is not listed in the AAA tour books but is wonderful. Unlike other floating museums where you walk around on your own, an ex navy man takes you around in small groups. My tour lasted way over an hour. It is over 400 feet long and is very impressive to visit.

My mother and I had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful ship. We were planning a self-guided tour but were pleasantly surprised to be given a tour. It was so informative and interesting. We spent 2 hours on the ship and thoroughly enjoyed our time.
Highly recommend!

My family and I spent the day on the ship. We were guided by Eric and Bill who spent 3 hours with us and gave us a most unexpected amazing tour. It was fabulous!!! We learned all about the facts of the ship but more than that we heard stories of the brave men and great ship who served to keep our country safe!!! What a treasure and a must see!!!

This is a very satisfying visit because you can walk around most everywhere except the lowest levels and it is very inexpensive. I have been on several other tours of military ships and tall ships and you can walk through most all of the USS Edson...by yourself. Not for children or those with disabilities but there are many stairs to take up and down to see the many rooms on the tour.

We recently toured the USS EDSON and found it to be interesting and it gave us many things to ponder. By the time we got to the mess hall we were joined by Bill who is a volunteer for the ship. He was a wealth of knowledge and answered many questions we had. He gave us a great tour that was very insightful through the rest of the ship. To be on a ship what was in service as this ship was for so many years was an honor and education. If you have the opportunity to tour it don’t miss it and may you be fortunate enough to have Bill join you.

It was very interest to see this U. S. Navy, ship, similar to vessels built by the former Defoe Shipbuilding on the Saginaw River. The former shipyard is just downriver from the Edson site.

Took my 8 and 4 year old to see the US Edson. We all enjoyed it. The self guided tour really let's you see as much as you like at your own pace. There isn't much of limits....you really get to climb all over the ship which surprised me. Be sure to blow the horn when at the captains deck. It is impressive.....and scares the crap out of the kids. Haha.

We were thinking our young adults might get bored but they loved it as well as we did. It looks as if the last service people stepped off and we stepped on. We did a self guided tour but might appreciate going through it with a docent. It gives a great idea of what life would have been like on the ship.

We visited the ship Saturday afternoon thinking it would be an hour visit after Bill (one of the Navy vet volunteers) started to explain with details and stories some of the rooms and artifacts making it super magical our time flew by and a few hours later our daughter (10 years old) had an amazing time and so did we.
If you are lucky you might have Bill as your personal tour guide.

I'm not sure if it costs money normally, but the ramp was open and no one was around so we just walked on. It was on Memorial Day, so there was lots of veterans around and they were cool to talk to. There was old vets around to answer any questions and show you some cool stuff. If you're into history, it's worth checking out.

We had expected a museum that included a variety of exhibits and artifacts. This museum is the USS Edson. We started the self guided tour when we heard a gentleman explaining some interesting things to a visitor. We honed in on their voices so we too could learn from this sailor who had actually sailed on this ship. After about an hour and feeling somewhat claustrophobic, I made my way up on deck while my husband continued his tour. Total, it was close to 3 hours and he got to go in places where most visitors do not go. He loved it and the guide was full of facts and stories. I was fine looking at the river and enjoying a cool breeze. I do not know how the other visitor managed to get a tour but we certainly benefitted from it.

Our GPS had no trouble finding it.

Bill was very informative. My boys loved the wishing well, the super loud horn, ringing the bell and learning about all the unique nooks of the ship.

Normally tours are quite boring, but Eric made sure we had a very immersive experience. He took us through the entire ship and tailored his stories and tour to our specific interests. It felt much more like a dialogue with a friend than a tour which made it that much more memorable. We loved hearing the ghost stories, delving into the details of life on the ship, and interacting with the old machinery. Eric showed us his elaborate and beautiful knotwork which can be found throughout the ship. I’ve been on many tours and this was, by so so far, the best one I’ve ever been on. We’re so grateful we had the opportunity to attend and will definitely be back!

We had the pleasure of meeting Wayne while walking through the ship. He was extremely knowledgeable and took a lot of time to explain all the details of the ship. He made our tour a great experience!

The vets from similar ships in action gave a detailed tour the quality and depth I've not seen even with an inspection tour of USS Constitution. Tours of WWII subs, etc and more modern ships like the Carrier USS MIdway have good guides, but Edson guides have the combat experience that enlivens the shipboard experience. Veterans and their family get royal treatment but my tour and the intersection with others all got a great experience.
BTW, this is all volunteer, and act of devotion.
Be aware that not all areas are easy to navigate for very young or motion challenged.

Drove over on a Tuesday afternoon. Very few other visitors which was great because we weren't running into the same people in the narrow passageways. Most of the ship was open to explore. Volunteers are necessary to keep the ship in top shape - thanks to those who do volunteer.

Eric and Bill were amazing!! Very knowledgeable. Eric knots threw out the ship were awesome!! We planned on being there an hour and we’re there over 3 hours. Best museum experience we have ever had!!

We started a self-guided tour, and found the naval museum/ship interesting and educational, but then Bill found us and gave us a guided tour. Our visit went from good to GREAT!!! Highly recommend going on a tour with Bill. You won't regret it!

The USS Edson (DD-946) is a 1950s era destroyer that is moored at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum and is open for all to go aboard and tour the ship. Quite a bit of the ship is open for public viewing, including the after five-inch fire control room, crews quarters, aft engine room and fire room (boiler room), crews and Chief Petty Officer's mess, officers staterooms, wardroom (officer's mess), radio room, CIC (combat information center), pilot house, and signal bridge. The tour is self guided and takes about 3 hours to complete. The ship docents are really great and can answer any questions you may have about Edson, or the navy for that matter. The cost of the tour varies, depending on age and whether or not you are a member of the Tin Can Association. A regular adult tour is $10.00. It's money well spent and you will enjoy going back in time to another era in our naval history.

My wife and I stayed at the Doubletree Riverview in downtown Bay City. The hotel is just 10 minutes from the ship. The trip to the ship is an easy one and parking is unlimited at the ship's berthing area.

Amazing and unforgettable. Today, we toured the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum. We learned a great deal from Bill, one of the docents. He was very informative and answered our many questions, as well as many we had not thought of. Bill even stayed one hour past the museum's closing time to make sure we saw everything. A trip to this museum is well worth it. Eva & Phil

This is a self-guided tour, but there were many plaques, etc., to explain what one was looking at. Men who were working on the ship (painting) were helpful. Price was reasonable. History buffs would find this particularly interesting.

Our family visited the ship and it was a fascinating experience. Mr. Bill found us on the ship and was kind of enough to guide us and give us so much information about the crew and the ship. Wonderful experience! Highly recommend going on a tour.

The self tour is very easy to do. Some ship's ladders and low doorways but in general very good access, better than it was in the day. Good access to boilers and turbines; quarters, firming computer, bridge and command center. Highly recommended!

Very awesome adventure. We were lucky to have an excellent volunteer veteran that served in the ship as our guide. What we thought was a 15-30 min look around turned out to be a 3 hour tour that was pretty cool. Lots of stories and information was shared. Amazing what guys went through and all the crazy computers and stuff guys had to learn and use. Simply mind blowing stuff.

Absolutely amazing to be able to step back in time. Fro. The minute you step on board you try to imagine the crew and the ship on active duty. Spent some time talking to volunteers and 2 of the actual crew when she was on active duty. If you like history, this is a must do in the Bay City area. Do not miss it.

We decided to enjoy ourselves, despite the rainy day. My husband and his brother so enjoyed the guided tour by BILL - he did a great job and they were in heaven hearing all about the ship and Bill's experiences in the Navy.

First this map directions are off the ship is on Martin st. The people were very friendly $10 admission for self guide tour. Only bad thing is a lot of stuff was not open to us to use or go in probably due to safety and others abusing the privilege. Took about an hour

My family and I took a tour this week and were so lucky to have Bill for a guide. He was absolutely amazing! His insights and stories truly brought the ship to life for us. How very lucky the museum is to have someone as enthusiastic and fun as a tour guide. What an absolutely fantastic afternoon and what a wonderful person. Thank you Bill for your service!

My father and I walked from top to bottom, front to back. Saw and felt a lot of history.
Much respect to our serviceman and woman. A must see for all.

We decided to take my son to the Navel Ship Museum while here on a work trip / vacation trip.
Most of the ship is open for you to explore. It is a self guided tour, so it's up to you to keep on track and make sure the kiddos don't switch and flip knobs and buttons. The history and stories are very interesting. The staff is also very welcoming and informative. I would highly recommend you taking the tour. It lasted about 1.5 hours for us.

What an informative and entertaining time aboard the USS Edson. As much for Grandma and Grandpa as for the grandchildren. Be sure to take a guided tour, if possible. These guys are wonderful. Full of stories and bring life to the ship and all it has been through. We actually had a gentleman who had served on this ship. Of course, you can also go it alone without a guide. We've done both. I would only recommend having a guide because it's a neater experience.

We had a great time exploring the USS Edson with Bill as our tour guide telling captivating stories. Highly recommend taking the time to visit and learn about the history and adventures of the ship and its crew.

This was a stop as we were traveling up north. It was really impressive - had some information in the brochure (please read the rules and don't let your kids climb on stuff), and descriptions around the ship. Had a really fun "exploring" feel to it, and the "tour route" signs were great. Worth the entry fee. Highly recommend.

We stopped by the U.S.S. Edson on display in the Saginaw River during the Tall Ship Celebration 2016. We were on the way to visit the Saginaw River Rear Range Light and our shuttle bus stopped at the ship so we visited the ship on the way. It looks nice sitting in the river, and looks good even when it still needs some renovations. I thought it was very cute that their little landing craft on display was called "Ed's Son"😁

the USS Edson is berthed in Bay City, it is relatively intact from its commissioned days. This ship was commissioned in 1958 & incorporated a lot of the lessons from WW2 & developments since then. There is a reception desk in the gift shops & toilets at the foot of the wharf. It pays to take a bottle of water with you as it can get warm internally. There are volunteers on the ship that can give you some antidotes of the ships history. There is a self-guided tour & you get the printed guide when you purchase your ticket. The tour takes you over the upper decks, from the stern to the bow & up to the bridge. It also goes through the working spaces, galleys, mess decks & the engine room. You have a comprehensive view of what life was like on board. There are navy displays in some of the compartments. I would recommend 2 hours for a good look over.

This historical ship and museum were absolutely amazing! The USS Edson has such a historic story and we learned so much about its role in the Vietnam War. My wife and I were on a self-guided tour when a volunteer, Bill, offered us some additional information. In addition, Bill took us on a full tour of the ship to include areas that were closed to the general public! The ship was amazing… Bill was amazing… and my wife and I had an amazing visit to the floating museum!

Went on a Monday and had the ship to ourselves. Plenty of things to see and read about. Crawling all around the ship was fun and educational. Remember to duck your head.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this great ship. We had an awesome tour guide, if there are enough volunteers there be sure to hook up with one of them. Much better than doing the self-guided. Our two boys 4 & 7 thought the ship was pretty cool too!

I was really impressed with the quality of the entire exhibit. It was very interesting to go below the deck to see the areas where the crews spent their days doing their duties, and to see their eating and sleeping quarters. The only drawback is that the museum is a self guided tour and I always like to hear the additional input from the tours guides when they can add their personal touch to the tour with additional facts and tidbits. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in history.

We came here not really sure what to expect. We were not disappointed! While it is a retired ship, it seems to be in the shape it was when used. All I gotta say is, I can’t imagine spending months on here. Very tight quarters. My 16 year old daughter thought it was cool, so that is impressive. Good displays inside and the staff were great with questions.

We spent some awesome time exploring this ship on our own using the guide provided. The ship is very similar to the one my husband served on in the Navy so he especially enjoyed poking around. I learned more about his time and duties in the service. Seeing the Edson really makes you appreciate what our servicemen and women endure.

There is a small gift shop/display area.

We received a complete guided tour that lasted two hours for just the three of us. This ship that launched in 1958 and decommissioned in 1988 has a rich history that is laid out throughout the ship in various forms, that included many stories and personal history from our tour guide. Once a part of the Sea, Air, and Space Museum in New York, this incredible ship is now available and being cared for by a handful of volunteers dedicated to restoration. We were so grateful for the time, attention, and dedication, of our tour guide and the other volunteers who work so hard to continue to restore this incredible piece of history. We learned so many fascinating details, including how this ship, though no longer commissioned, actively aided in the recovery process after 9/11. You have to be able to climb stairs and well-appointed ladders but our ages range from early 50s-70s and we did just fine. Thanks again to all who have a part in providing this important piece of history to the community.

We were very fortunate to go just before the reunion when there were several men who served on the Edson there to give us a first hand tour of the ship. So very informative and interesting to hear of their personal experiences. But if you don’t have one of them handy for a tour the self guided tour is amazing as well.
We took lots of photos and made a lot of great memories.

While in Michigan I thought my kids would like taking this tour. . .we drove over there but depute the website saying it was open and tours were giving 364 days a year the were closed. . .they could see it which they enjoyed but were bummed we couldn't tour

Great way to spend an hour or two. Ship is more open than most that I have seen, and has been preserved in the Vietnam War era setting. Nice location on the Saginaw River.

The staff was very friendly and informative. The ship is very interesting to tour and is easy to access. The parking is free and right in front of the ship, so pictures are a must! They give group discounts and encourage them. They are even willing to stay later than posted hours, if asked in advance. I would recommend this museum, it is a great piece of history from the Viet Nam war.

Tagging along with history buffs on a beautiful summer day was a great way for me to enjoy time with my husband and son, to see the Saginaw Bay in a natural setting with plenty of parking, a picnic table and easy access to the exhibit after buying tickets in the gift shop. Volunteers were available but it is also a well-marked tour to follow on your own. There are some areas with ladder access that could be skipped by persons with less mobility. It is possible to imagine life on the boat with descriptive displays in areas such as dining, medical, sleeping and mechanical. It could be warm on the boat during summer heat but the deck has many interesting features as well and moving below at your own pace to read as much or as little as you want will help one manage. It's great to have this attraction in the area to be able to experience part of our history.

It's an old war ship. It is showing it's age but they are slowly restoring it. Kind of musty smelling to be expected. Lots of climbing up and down steep ladders and stairs and there are some tight spaces to squeeze in/out of. We had a self guided tour and were able to spend as much time in each section as we liked.

We took our grandchildren to this and they ask to go again every time we are in the area. They enjoyed seeing the "ship life" and it's a pretty good activity no matter what the weather is.

So much to see on this historic ship and almost all of it open to public so we took our time and walked through every level and so impressed with the preservation of all the artifacts, objects, displays and exact details of living on this working war ship. The info was so detailed and descriptive that we could actually picture the guys doing their jobs in each of these specialty areas. Also got to see the drawbridge open and close out on the river while we were on the top level. Our only issue was no one around to answer our questions later---had asked one of the guides about the medical room when we first got there but then they all disappeared for the rest of the time we were visiting the ship---got there about 12:30 pm and left about 2:30 pm, so asked the clerk in the admission area our questions before we left but she wasn't sure of answers or where the guides were since she was dealing with a screaming upset child?? Other than that was great to see this great historical ship! Thank you!

This museum was a really great experience. I wanted to find something different for my husband and I to do that would be more educational and interactive. Upon arriving, it wasn’t crowded and there is a restroom facility. We got on the ship and followed the tour route. I was expecting it to be a really straight path, museum type feel but it was so much more than that. We got to explore the boat, all the different rooms and nooks and crannies. Halfway through we caught up with one of their tour guides. The tour guide made our trip a memorable experience. We truly enjoyed hearing his experiences and knowledge of the boat. He was also good at throwing his jokes in. He’s definitely a true gem to the museum and it was neat to hear from someone who worked on the boat! You could tell he was passionate about the boat and answering questions. I wasn’t expecting to be so interested in learning about the history of the boat before I got there. I learned a lot and can’t fathom how we as humans even accomplished that magnitude of things. The boiler room was mind blowing. I would have never expected a ship inside to be so big and complicated and it definitely gave me a new perspective of our history. We spent a good portion of the day there learning. I can’t really imagine our trip without the tour guide now, he was a blessing to have there. One tip I’d like to mention for those with disabilities, I do have a disability myself and use a mobility aide when I need to. There were various stairs, some stair ladders, and narrow spaces. Even the main entrance is a gradual incline of steps up to the boat. So if you absolutely have to have a mobility aide I could see that being hard to navigate. I pushed myself a little to be there but it was worth it. Very cool experience and would recommend!

We came away from this with a new appreciation for all who serve our country. My brother served in the Navy during the Vietnam Nam era. I had no idea what he went through. A real eye opener. Very worthwhile.

We got a little extra touring near halloween. You do your own tour but there are clearly marked directions

Great Look at Navy Destroyer! You can climb and walk throughout the ship. Signs and information all over. Good for all ages, except toddlers. Good look at what life on ship in small living and working spaces

We were on an "aimless drive" and this ship happened to across our path. We got there 1/2hr after they were closed yet Bill(?) and gang were gracious enough to still allow us a tour. Did I mention it was a 3hr tour? Yes, you heard right. It was 3 hours of the best darn tour I've ever had. The highlight was pulling the lever for the air horn. It was truly an honor. Thank you so very much.

After many years of trying to get the ship, and get it settled in its permanent location in Bay City this is an amazing specimen of this class destroyer. There is so much planned to be done to get her in good order, but just seeing her and boarding for a great tour was an outstanding honor! This ship served extensively off Viet Nam with unbelievable firepower. Three 5" guns each firing 40 rounds per minute. "Three guns No waiting" used as their logo, called "The Grey Ghost of the Vietnamese Coast". The complement included 17 Officers and 218 men. She could cruise at 38 knots per hour (That's fast). I took nearly 100 pictures! Adults $10, well worth it. They hold all kinds of events on board, well worth the visit!

a must see we would go back with our friends to see. best for school field trips for a history class. War ship that’s a must see

Got to experience what it was like on the USS Edson ( in service 1958 - 1967 - including Vietnam service) Our guide -Bill - once served on such a vessel and could tell us what it was like first hand. We were able to walk about the ship and see the various rooms ( engineering, mess, infirmary , see weapons, laundry, and much more.

Self guided tour of battle ship used during the Vietnam war. Hard to fathom men living in such small space for a long period of time with the dangers of war. Made you appreciate what these men did for our freedom. The smell of the engine oil must make war veterans cringe. Great experience. Thank you to all the people that worked so hard to make this exhibit possible.

A great self-guided tour with a pamphlet they provide. You have access to many areas in the ship including the bridge and engine areas. They did a great job with signage to explain the various areas…you don’t have to guess what something it or how it was used. Definitely recommend checking it out if you’re in the area.

After being a "tin can sailer " for 4 years it was great to see this Fletcher Class destroyer on display. It looks SOOOOO much smaller than I remember it. But a real treat to reminice gain.

We were the only people on the ship today. I was told that their was a guide on board but didn't see anyone. We were asked to wear masks because of covid19 which was fine. But none of the staff was wearing masks. All of that we could deal with but they have to do something about the wasps!

Too often you're unable to poke about inside a warship but the USS Edson is open in many areas and is loaded with historical information, photos, press clippings, examples of uniforms and other displays pertinent to the ship. The Edson saw active duty from 1958 to 1988 and was instrumental in America's withdrawal from South Vietnam. With her three 5" guns she provided cover for the evacuation of Saigon and served throughout that conflict. At 400' long and only 45' wide she likely rolled a bit in heavy seas and visitors will see how tight are the quarters. At one point my friend admitted to being a bit claustrophobic in the narrow hallways but with the ship now moored on the Saginaw River in Bay City Michigan there's little movement and also little appreciation of how really crowded it must have been with a total crew of 235 officers and enlisted men. Because you can tour so much of the Edson I'd allow a couple of hours or more if you're a real history fan. There's a gift shop adjacent to the dock and some of the volunteers we spoke with had actually served on the Edson so all our questions were easily answered. It's an excellent trip back into another era and well worth the $10 admission fee. One tip, Do Not rely on Google Maps or other navigation to find the Edson. Apparently the postmaster refuses to assign a proper address to the ship so if you use the address noted in the AAA book for instance you will be delivered elsewhere on the river. The Edson is close to downtown Bay City and can be seen from the closest bridge over the Saginaw. Plenty of parking and a grassed open area for picnics.

This is an amazing experience the staff is very friendly and helpful! A great place to spend the afternoon and learn some great information about our history!

This is about a 400 foot destroyer that had multiple missions in Vietnam. We paid $13 each adult and were able to explore all over the ship by ourselves--very well set up so you could try to experience what it was to serve on the ship,

Being that my wife is a Navy veteran, she absolutely love touring the ship. Even though it was much older and smaller than her ship, she immediately felt "at home" as soon as she stepped aboard. This is a great way to spend the day, but it is not going to be easy for those with disabilities. Also, small children will have trouble with the steep ladder wells. This museum is a must see, it will give a new appreciation for those Responsible For Our Freedom!

This place is a gem, and well worth the visit. Reasonable admission for a self-guided and extensive tour. The ship is filled with artifacts and displays to add context to your understanding of the ship. Helpful brochures tell you about the ship's first 5 tours; and my 16-year old son was even interested. We spent about 1.5 hours and saw it all. Volunteers are friendly as well, and the gift shop is reasonably priced.

Super interesting and fun to explore. I went by myself and Bill found me roaming the ship and offered to give me a tour. He was super friendly and informative and included stories from his personal experience serving in the Navy. The ship was such an incredible thing to see and such a cool experience. Neither kids nor adults would be bored with all the small passageways to explore. You are free to explore and roam which I liked. Overall fun experience!

As I mentioned for my review on their facebook page, it most definitely is a must see for an experience of being able to tour through the multiple levels of the vessel at your own pace while also taking in all the history that is on display throughout. If you have been thinking of making the trip, don't put it off any longer, it is definitely worth the time to explore, we'll definitely be returning.
Helpful hint: The outside view of the USS Edson may give the appearance that it's easy to see everything in a short amount of time, the multiple levels of this vessel are hidden well, and reach below the surface of the water. We were there for at least two and half hours, and still did not tour the lowest level. The pictures I posted are mostly of the exterior, the real journey begins inside.

My 10year old Grandson and I thought we would check out the"Old Shop". Really cool! Lots of history and the place has a vibe😖. I think the fall Ghost Tours would totally be worth it. Lots to see and climb. Not for people who can't do stairs, but so worth it.

The ship has only been here just over a year so is a work in process. There is a great group of volunteers that are very knowledgeable about the ship. Worth the trip if you like military museums.

We were looking something different and educational to do. We decided to do a self guided tour at the Naval museum. $10 per adt and $8 under 18 is a more than generous admission. You are free to tour many of the USS Edsons levels to give you an idea what life was like for a Naval enlistee. Along with the many rooms of memorabila, you can tour the barracks,lockers, cafeteria, officers quarters, control rooms-I could go on and on. My 16 yr old granddaughter struck up a conversation with a volunteer Eric who was more than generous with his time showing us around(3 hrs!). He was very informative! My own father was a Navy vet-my granddaughters boyfriends dad is a military man himself. Also met a vet Bill at the end of the tour who sat and conversed with us for quite awhile-entertaining us with stories of paranormal activity on the ship(he was featured in a book-Haunted Bay City Michigan). This is a hidden gem-definately a must see.

Well worth the visit. A self-guided tour allows you to spend as much time climbing on the ship as you want. We spent about 2.5 hours, and even my 5 year old did not get bored! A lot to see, you get to explore all areas of the ship, and good sinage tells you what you are looking at and why. The volunteers running the ship are VERY friendly and helpful, and well able to answer any and all questions. One of the undiscovered "gems" in our vacation. We will be back next time we are in Bay City.

Decided to see the USS Edson with son and grandson. I thought the price would be a little lower for children. The staff is doing a fabulous job restoring this ship. I remember it when it came to Pearl Harbor during the Vietnam War. We happened to play ball against their team. It is a very historic ship that was involved in heavy shore bombardment during the war. Topside areas look great especially the bridge area and 02 level. They are working hard below decks and have just a little of the fantail hull to do above the waterline. This is a great place to take kids. Make sure you use a guide or someone who has been aboard a naval vessel. It will make your experience much better. Way to go guys and WELCOME HOME!

One of our prized possessions in Bay City...Brought here, restored back close to its heroic self, by donations and volunteers!... Volunteer will help you if needed..
All restoration was done and is kept "ship shape" by volunteer.
It is a treasure... Thank you all!

We visit family every year and have seen this retired U.S. Navy Destroyer ship in the river just off Saginaw Bay and wanted to find out its story. We paid the modest fee and boarded this historic ship. It is self guided tour and you are allowed in most areas of the ship, on all levels. If you have wanted to tour a Navy ship but don't have access to one of the coasts, I highly recommend this one!

We absolutely loved this. We loved it wasn’t super “museum-y” and much of the ship was original and not changed.
MAKE SURE BILL IS YOUR GUIDE. He is so great. We had such a fun time and learned so much. He has fought in a ship like this so If you take a guided tour with Bill you get such a cool experience with real stories.

We loved it and are planning to come back.

I've been on quite a few Museum Ships over the years. I really enjoyed the U.S.S. Edson. I was impressed by how much of the ship you can actually get to. I spent a lot of time checking out the engine room since usually, you can't get to all the nooks and crannies that the Edison allowed you to get to.

Off the ship seems like a bit of a work in progress. The entrance building looks like an old construction jobsite trailer. The parking area is just a dirt road. There isn't a great place to get a good picture of the whole ship, which is something they need to work out. I went to the top of the berm next to the dirt road and walked to the far end of the dirt road to get the whole ship in one shot and still had trees in the way. A nice viewing deck down there would be excellent.

Vets were very friendly and informative about the history of the ship, would be very educational for students of all ages

This tour really puts perspective on what living on a ship must feel like. Lots of history in the tour and the ship is in pretty good shape. It feels like you are on an adventure while aboard the ship and it is cool to be able to peek into areas the general public would never typically see!

It was so much fun touring the old destroyer! They are trying to restore it right now and its coming but needs a lot of work! Give them a hand by dropping by to see it and help pay for the restoration! Lots of cool souvenirs to buy too and the people are so friendly!

Drove up from St. Louis just to see this old beauty. Served on USS Hull DD945 back in 73'. Long time planning and was well worth the wait. Can't tell you how much I enjoyed walking around reliving some old memories. Got to bring my brother to show him what I did in the Navy. He was really impressed too. Had some great conversations with your crew also. Recommend a visit to all.

My teen son and I traveled from Chicago to tour the USS Edson and it was well worth the drive. We were fortunate that a kind volunteer offered to give us a tour we weren't even planning on! It is amazing to see the passion the volunteers have for restoring and maintaining this spectacular artifact of U.S. history. If we didn't have to return home that day, we would've loved to have spent the afternoon chatting the day away with everyone in the gift shop - quite an entertaining and informative group of individuals, as well as ambassadors for the Edson and Bay City. Although it was extremely windy the day we did the tour, we dressed appropriately for the conditions (as recommended on the website) and found that it was perfectly comfortable inside. We are already planning for when we will return.

This is a must visit for history buffs and families with school age children. Admission is cheap and goes toward restoration of the ship.

a must see we would go back with our friends to see. best for school field trips for a history class.

The ship is now in town, but is in a temporary location at Wirt Stone Docks in Essexville.

The upper decks are open for visitors. The ship needs some work to get rid of the rust, but is worth seeing. They have people there who can tell you the history of the ship and some 'war stories'.

You have to be able to climb ladders and gangways, so it is not wheelchair friendly. But this is a former naval destroyer; it was not built that way.

Took our granddaughter to see the ship her grandfather served on. Took lots of pictures. It's a work in progress. Enjoyed seeing photos of the ship in service.

The tour was amazing. Bill not only took us on a behind the scenes tour but explained what life was really like on the ship. I learned things I never knew. I would highly recommend if you're in the Bay City area.

The USS Edson was commissioned in 1958 and was active during the Vietnam war. Seeing the space where many young men spent their time at war was surreal. We were given a tour by a very knowledgeable gentleman, named Bill, who answered all our questions and supplied us with so much information. Thank you! It was truly an experience I would recommend!

Great place to spend some time reliving history! Our grandchildren, 4 and 2 loved it. You do have to be careful with the little ones due to climbing ladders; and watch out for the "lady" in the shower!

Amazing tour! Bill cracked us up and was very knowledgeable. Its nice to tour a ship that was in combat and has serious history and stories

Our tour guide Eric went above and beyond with our tour. It was a quiet day we were the only ones on the ship at first. He showed us so much and went into great detail without being boring or redundant. My husband was in the Navy and they shared many stories. He kept by 13 year old son interested, which is a tough job. lol. Even my 17 year old daughter loved it. Eric is a true asset to the museum. I highly recommend touring this museum and learning about the ships history. FYI: Dress warm in the cold months. There is no heat on the ship.

Visiting the USA Eidson is pretty cool. I have never been on a battle ship before and now there is one in my backyard! It's only 10$ for adults and if your lucky one of the original sailors maybe on board and tell you stories about their time on board

Had a good tour with Bill. had a lot of laughs as he showed us around, i definitely recommend a visit to this amazing ship.

This is my 3rd visit, I brought my granddaughter this trip. A wonderful trip, the ship is progressing nicely. The folks that volunteer are awesome! A piece of Naval history you don't want to miss!

We experienced a great time aboard the USS Edson museum ship. It's wonderful to see something like this in a small town of Bay City. This is at least my fourth or fifth time on the Edson, and there's always new things to explore. However there's not a chance you catch me actually setting sail. Thank you for your service and for providing a great venue for my family to learn more about history.

We stumbled on this ship as we were passing through. We were so curious that we turned around a drove to it and had to take a tour. Wow! What a ship. I’ve never been on anything like this. It was full of things to look at and was self guided. You could spend hours here if you wanted to. We went on a weekday morning and we just about had it to ourselves. After walking through this ship, it gave me a newer appreciation for the men and women at sea. I can’t imagine what it really must have been like. God Bless America 🇺🇸

This is a very worthwhile attraction. Vietnam era destroyer and you're pretty much free to go anywhere on the ship you like. Our 9 year old was enthralled with the whole experience. When in Bay City, make sure you stop and take the tour. Excellent.

It was interesting and takes a while to go through, but worth it. Make sure you go through on a cool day. The heat and humidity causes the small areas to become hot and smell bad.

What should i say here........how about they let you crawl around on a sherman class destroyer all by yourself. They let you explore at your own pace and figure things out for yourself. I hope the volunteers keep up the good work and make it even better!!

This is a legendary naval vessel that is in tip-top condition with many features that make is a must see venue for locals and tourists alike. Opportunities for stay overs make it an interesting option for kids and families. Tour guides make this an excellent educational experience, and the covered pavilion allow for enjoyable group activities.

A great way to see a destroyer as it was in the Vietnam era. The staff was friendly and helpful. We even had an employee on the ship - retired from the Navy - that led us around and shared his knowledge. It made the visit even more interesting.

Great self paced tour of history. Volunteers around to answer questions & tell you all about the ship. Was a great day trip.

Teachers from Saginaw High gathered here for the last gathering of club called FATS.
We had a great time watching the Michigan vs Ohio State game..The ship is a unique place to gather. There are many volunteers who keep this ship in great shape and they make it better all the time. It is unique in Saginaw Valley

It took us about 2 hours to tour through the ship. We didn't read every sign but we looked over everything. The staff and volunteers obviously are compassionate about the project.

We visited the museum thinking it would be a 15-20 minute walk, turns out Bill Randal kept us engaged for 2 hours. It was one of the best tours I have experienced. Fascinating ship, interesting stories, intriguing history and narration by a veteran. Could not have asked for a better combination. This gray ghost is a beauty. Bill walked us through all the details and I am amazed at the life the navy is enforced with. Respect! Learnt so much. I will strongly recommend you take this tour. Its a must visit.

You will see what it was like aboard ship, tight working spaces, small living quarters, not a fun time living on board. Then occasionally getting shot at! Well worth the trip!

I had such an amazing time at the ship yesterday (3-25-23). I went with my friend and it was so cool and the all the volunteers and workers were so friendly and I recommend this to everyone who will be in the area. Thank you for preserving our history !!

My husband and I took our 12 year old grandson, what a great experience for all of us to learn about the ships history and how the sailors lived and worked. A truly enjoyable and enlightening tour.

The USS Edson DD-946 was deployed around the southeast Asia region during the 1960s and early 1970s. It was then decommissioned and moved to New York and then finally to Bay City. This may be the only retired Navy ship in Michigan.

Over 90% of the ship is accessible to visitors. On the day of this visit, it was a self-guided tour. There is a paper brochure that has understandable directions for touring the ship and the signage at points of interest is very good. This tour involves a decent amount of walking…if the entire ship is to be seen thoroughly. It is strongly recommended to wear comfortable, flat soled shoes.

Narrow walkways are encountered in the engine room. Due to pipes, some areas are tight and cramped. Otherwise, except for a few tight and steep stairs leading to some decks, most of the ship is an average walk.

The Wardroom has a flag that was flown at Pearl Harbor.

Some areas and items of interest include:

Aft Engine Room
Bridge
Chart Room
Radio Room
Combat Information Center (CIC)
Signal Deck
POW/MIA Table
Torpedo Tubes
Gun Mount 52

On the day of this visit, a ceremony was conducted…with three shots being fired from an upper deck of the ship.

This is a must see for nautical enthusiasts or anyone interested in military history.

There's something for everyone! Vets, kids, computer nerds (that was me), history buffs, geography and weather buffs...everyone! Take one of the volunteer guided tours. Ours was over 2 hours and well worth it. Bill was fabulous and informative. Don't forget to tip and donate :)

Self guided go at your own pace, Lots of great history. Probably not the best to take bouncy 4yr old due to the nature of the ship (open hatchs and rails). Overall every child enjoyed touring and asking LOTS of questions.

Very nicely restored from WW2, Korea, and Nam eras. Think all citizens should view this memorial to see what our men endured for our freedom. Being a sailor of a destroyer(older) I can say these men did a wonderful job restoring her. Many other places to go in Bay City area, planetarium, museum, etc. Allow a couple of hours and if its warm have a nice cook-out or try out Harvies for very reasonable food.