The National Museum of the Great Lakes tells the stories of the four great lakes in North America: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. From chilling maritime history stories and early voyages, to past and present developments, to their importance as natural resource, visitors get to learn everything from the museum’s over 300 displayed genuine artifacts.

Yes, this is a hidden gem in Toledo, Ohio.

I highly recommend checking this museum out. Even kids would love the interactive displays.

How long will it take to see everything in the museum? It is easy to spend a couple of hours here. If you include the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship (anchored to a port next to the main museum) in your tour, spare at least 3 hours.

Address.
National Museum of the Great Lakes
1701 Front St, Toledo, OH 4360
For GPS directions, see this Google Map link.

Captain’s Sea Chest, 1870.
Signal Canon, 1857. This is a common communication device used in boats.
The 1873 Second-Order Fresnel Lens from the Spectacle Reef Lighthouse. The second-order lens is the second largest of all the lighthouse lenses.
A 1914 Announcement Gong. Gongs are common on Great Lakes passenger steamers to announce the opening of the dining room or specific on-board activities.
A 1800 Sextant. It is used in navigation to measure the angle between an object in the sky and the horizon.
1900 Peloros. It is a piece of navigational equipment that allows the mariner to determine distance between two relative bearings or fixed objects like navigational buoys.
Capstan from the USS Michigan, 1844.
The North Star Ship’s Bell, 1889.
The Cortland Ship’s Bell, 1867.
1880 Carpenter’s Chest and Tools.
The Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship
1840 snowshoes and 1810 sword.