national museum of the great lakes

My husband and I really enjoyed a visit to this new museum and were impressed with the quality of the exhibits. There was a nice mix of interactive exhibit features that really helped bring the history and story of the Great Lakes to life. We took my Dad along and he really enjoyed and related to the history since he grew up in the area. Although the tours of the Schoonmacher lake freighter don't start until May, we still felt we received our money's worth in the museum without that added attraction.

We recently visited the Toledo area and saw this mentioned as a place worth visiting--and it really was. It is very new, and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Having lived near the Great Lakes all our lives, we found it very informative, and yet it was still fun, with all the interactive exhibits. It was well worth the reasonably priced admission. We would love to go back when the ship tour is available.

Very interesting and would love to go back in summer to tour the ship. Interactive so that my first grader was interested. Very neat information on storm formation in the great lakes that we all learned from.

The exhibit is small but interesting, especially if you've lived on the Great Lakes all or most of your life.

A tribute to American's inland seas, the Museum of the Great Lakes highlights everything we love -- the boats, the historical events, and the people who lived along the shores and plied the waters. Interactive exhibits will keep kiddies and oldies entertained throughout their visit. Although open year-round, try to visit during warmer months so you can go on board the cargo ship tethered just outside the museum facility. A great place for holding a business meeting, too -- comfortable classroom facilities offer an inspiring view of the Maumee River. A perfect setting for this museum and a gem for Toledo!

Not only do you get to visit the Great Lakes Museum , you also get to tour an authentic, floating, great lakes freighter as part of your visit.

We first visited the museum and Schoonmaker back in September, 2014. We were so impressed with the vessel and museum that we purchased a grandparents annual pass for $40. We have subsequently taken all of the grandkids on 4 different trips to this destination and we are still finding unique things to enjoy in the museum. Note that the Schoonmaker is open May - October. You can go EVERYWHERE on the vessel ... from the engine room to the captain's quarters. With Tony Packos only a mile away on Front street, we really enjoy making a day of this destination.

I saw the positive reviews on here and I was wondering if it was really THAT good.... Well I agree with everyone else! The museum has a lot of interesting artifacts but my favorite thing about this museum was how interactive it is. There are a lot of little games to play or videos to watch and you can physically touch most of the exhibits. I would like to return in the summer so I can tour the barge. I would absolutely recommend visiting this museum for people of all ages.

This Museum is an easy drive from Southeastern Michigan and places near Toledo, Ohio. This was our frist visit and we lucked out as the U.S. Brig Niagara was there. This is the reconstructed relief flagship of Commodore Perry in the battle of Lake Erie. We were able to take a tour as the ship was between training sessions. We also toured the Col. James M. Schoonmaker which is a great lakes freighter and is a permanent exhibit at the museum . This freighter was the largest bulk freighter in the world back in the 1900. It is a must see. The Museum was great also, especially the section detailing many of the shipwrecks in the great lakes.

Went to museum on a weekday with a teen and tween and their grandmother. Everyone had a wonderful experience. Museum has been beautifully assembled to educate and entertain, telling the story of life on the Great Lakes. NW Ohio is my childhood home so I am not there often. Have told many, MANY people to make the trip -- worth a drive and I will go again. Not sure if laker docked outside is open for tours in winter months. It was a must see part of the visit. Helpful docents on board. Follow up with lunch at original Tony Packo's down the street for a perfect multi-generational outing.

We thoroughly enjoyed this museum. There was so much to see and learn. As previously mentioned the variety of experiences is great. Unfortunately, we did give ourselves enough time. We had 2 hours and we spent 1 hour on the ship and 1 hour in the museum. We could have used another hour..

Too many museums are look but don't touch. Or the attractions keep you roped off from the best places; not here. not on this ship. Climb the gangplank to a 100+ year old freighter and start exploring! The cargo holds, the engine room, crew cabins, VIP accommodations, the pilot house, and the captains quarters are all accessible. My 11 year old daughter was worried that she wouldn't like this idea; we had to pull her off the ship in order to get to the museum before closing time. An absolute must if you go to Toledo!

This place is brilliant! Everything you've ever wanted to know about the Great Lakes and surrounding areas is contained in the National Museum of the Great Lakes.There are loads of artifacts, and interactive presentations. There's also heaps of hands on exhibits for kids young and old. For instance, when I was there I had to have a go with the interactive railroad car. The car is loaded with coal off of a conveyor that is driven by a hand crank. Little chunks of foam "coal" fall out of a trap door to fill the railroad car. After hauling it up an incline, through a sliding door, the coal is dumped back onto the conveyor. Pretty cool if I may say so myself!In the front there's an area where a short is film is played which depicts the formation of the Great Lakes. Lightning flashes on the big screen and there's a resounding thunderous boom in surround sound. The whole video might go for twenty minutes at best; but it's very entertaining to watch - especially with all of the lighting and sound effects.If you've never been on a Great Lakes freighter, the Museum of the Great Lakes has got you covered! The SS Col. James M. Schoonmaker, which was built in 1911, was once the largest bulk freighter in the world. It costs an extra $4 to take a tour of the ship, and it's worth every penny. The museum crew has done a beautiful job restoring her back to her original glory. All of the original oak accents are in the officers' chambers. Everything on the ship looks original. Be prepared to spend at least 40 minutes touring this beauty.

This is a small new museum located on the riverfront across from downtown. The focus of the museum are the ships and shipwrecks of the Great Lakes. One of the largest freighters that traveled the Great Lakes is located adjacent to the museum available to tour and in my opinion, the highlight of the museum. This is a great addition to the toledo scene.

I went with my dad and 3 children (ages 9,8,5). My children are easily "bored" and I wasn't sure it would be worth the money. We arrived around 1:30 and didn't leave till after 4:00 because we had to leave. My children NEVER got " bored". We toured the ship first and spent over an hour freely exploring it together. The museum had several hands-on options for my younger son and they all learned while having fun. My dad was able to buy a grandparents membership and is excited to bring more grand kids with him the next time. I highly recommend this museum and ship to everyone.