The picturesque beauty of the Great Lakes belies its reputation as a treacherous body of water to cross. As a reminder of the perils of these lakes, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum was established.

The museum holds a distinction for collecting, preserving and displaying collections dedicated solely to shipwrecks. Several remnants of sunken ships are on display, including artifacts from Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve, a maritime conservation institution.

The collections in the museum include the bell from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. Other artifacts are various parts and salvaged stuff from ships like Superior City, Vienna, Samuel Mather, and Myron. The museum visit also includes tours to the historic buildings within the museum compound, and lectures about the United States Coast Guard and US Lifesaving Service. The museum was inducted to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.