Program Areas
Mission Statement:
Preserve lights and stations which warned mariners of the dangers inherent, Honor those who were aboard and who bravely attempted rescue and Discover, document and interpret vessels which instead took the deep.
Museum Operations
In the summer of 1985, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum opened its doors with a small exhibit located in the present video theatre. In just six weeks, over 12,000 visitors had come to Whitefish Point to see the Museum.
Today, museum operations at Whitefish Point attract nearly 100,000 cultural tourism visitors. The Shipwreck Museum Campus features nine historic structures and newly constructed buildings to serve this large audience.
In 2009, the Shipwreck Museum opened its second operational site, at the historic 1899 U.S. Weather Bureau Building, located in Soo Locks Park, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. This facility features exhibits about the history of the area and the U.S. Weather Service, as well as information about Lake Superior’s Shipwreck Coast. The Weather Bureau Building is open year-round from 10am to 5pm weekdays, additionally on weekends during the summer months.
Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point Campus
1899 U.S. Weather Bureau Building
Diving and Underwater Research
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) is committed to preservation and interpretation of Great Lakes maritime history.
Specifically relating to Great Lakes Shipwrecks, GLSHS supports and promotes lawful safe diving on all shipwrecks. GLSHS has made a formal agreement with the State of Michigan to preserve and protect Michigan’s shipwreck heritage. Further, GLSHS desires to assist all states and provinces bordering the Great Lakes and connecting waters in all efforts which encourage historic preservation.
The Society works with organizations as National Geographic Society, Harbor Branch Oceanographic, the Canadian Navy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Discovery and History Channels and many state and local governmental agencies throughout the Great Lakes.
The Shipwreck Society conducts ongoing research into the stories of Great Lakes Shipwrecks. During the summer months, the Society’s primary platform is its 47-foot Research Vessel David Boyd, equipped with a Phantom S4 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), Marine Sonics Dual Frequency SideScan Sonar, underwater HD digital imaging equipment, and the latest in digital surface interface data storage and navigational electronics.
