Dossin Great Lakes Museum image

Dossin Great Lakes Museum

Tourist attraction Maritime museum

Sprawling facility with artifacts & exhibits detailing the Great Lakes & local maritime history. People often mention museum, great, Great, history, ship, exhibits, Detroit, worth, Isle, Lakes,


Address

100 The Strand, Detroit, MI 48207

Website

detroithistorical.org

Contact

(313) 821-2661

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (968 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 1 to 5 PM
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday: Closed
  • Thursday: Closed
  • Friday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: museum (28) great (15) Great (12) history (12) ship (12) exhibits (11) Detroit (11) worth (10) Isle (9) Lakes (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Katherine F. 7 months ago on Google • 71 reviews
    Hidden gem!! The Gothic Room (pulled from an old steamer) when you walk in is staggering, jaw dropping. It is hard to believe it’s there! The back half of the museum is a boat. Like a full boat. With a working periscope and a large exhibit about the Edmund Fitzgerald. Adults and kids have plenty to do and see with a lot of interactive exhibits. I also got to see a show about lighthouse keepers in the museums gathering room, which overlooks the river. Absolutely recommend going, the admission price is well worth it.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jason J. 8 months ago on Google • 206 reviews
    The Dossin Great Lakes Museum is a hidden gem nestled along the Detroit River. The museum beautifully captures the spirit of the Great Lakes, offering engaging exhibits and educational experiences for visitors of all ages. It's a fantastic destination to learn, appreciate, and connect with the Great Lakes' captivating history.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Troy Z. 2 years ago on Google • 313 reviews
    I have to be honest.... I wasn't expecting this museum to be anything special. Boy, was I wrong! There is a lot of stuff to see and do here. They even have a simulator where you can operate and dock a freighter ship. It was a lot of fun. The best part, I thought, was the ship's bridge. It looks out over the water just as a ship would. It was really cool! There is a ton of information and things to see. There is also a very beautiful room set up as you enter that was from an old ship that traveled the local waters. There is a small building to the left of the actual museum. It houses one exhibit... The Miss Pepsi race boat. It's super cool. It has a raised walkway along the boat which is easy to manuver, and gives better place to view the exhibit. This was a really nice museum. Check them out....they are doing a great job ☺️
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amina Y. 2 years ago on Google
    Learned more about Detroit history. The fact that the Museum is built using some remains from ships is fascinating
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Laura C. 11 months ago on Google • 263 reviews
    This is an interesting maritime museum on Belle Isle. Learn all about the settlement of Detroit on the St. Lawrence Seaway . Super interesting info about boat travel and shipping in the Great Lakes. Lots of cool interactive exhibits that adults as well as kids can enjoy. This is well worth a visit!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tony A. 1 year ago on Google
    Really cool place to go with the family or to teach the kids some history. There is alot of cool places in the area as well so you not just limited to stopping here. This place has been here for awhile and used to be free but now costs $5 per person but still for sure worth it. Nice part of detroits history!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Oliver W. 2 years ago on Google
    This is a great little museum! Check online for hours, it's not open every day. There is no admission fee, but there is a donation box and gift shop. The museum.features artifacts from large great lakes vessels such as travel liners and cargo ships. They have the recovered anchor from the Edmond Fitzgerald. They also have lots of exhibits on the history of Detroit and the surrounding areas. I love spending time at museums. If you do too, you'll love this one. It's on Belle Isle, so you can combine it with the aquarium or sightseeing since the museum won't take more than 1.5 -2 hours max.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Monica J. 6 months ago on Google • 201 reviews
    It was a beautiful day. So much information and history. And hands on. I'll need to go back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Nau N. 10 months ago on Google
    A very small museum but interesting, they charge 5$ for entry fee. The old wood work in there is amazing.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 unsatisfied99 3 years ago on Google
    This is a little bit smaller Museum, it would only take about an hour or so to go through. That said, you could spend a couple of hours here. Several very interesting displays. There is an actual ships pilot house on the second floor of the building. It wasn’t clear if there was an elevator for handicap access, but assuming there is access. There is no set price for entry. They ask a donation, and recommend five dollars per person. It’s worth it. Right on the river, facing Canada, it would be a great place to go in the summer. We went in the middle of winter so it’s not quite as scenic. There are a couple of movies that show the history of Belle Isle. They’re only about seven or eight minutes each, but worth a look.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 P S. 1 year ago on Google
    We decided to check out the place on a whim. Found a wonderful display of an actual ship's interior called the "Gothic Room" it was so beautiful and ashamed more wasn't saved. Also learned about the Edmond Fitzgerald tragic shipwreck. There is also interactive game to drive and dock a ship which was fun. And a section of a second ship that overlooks the river that has real ship pilot house stuff to touch. There is a small gift store. Bathrooms only for paid entrance tickets to the museum. It is worth the 5.00 entrance fee.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jeannene B. 1 year ago on Google
    Wow! What a great museum. Well worth the 5.00 per person admission. Lots of ship replicas and information. We truly enjoyed our visit.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kristina C. 1 year ago on Google • 15 reviews
    Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area, plan to spend a couple hours to see it all, $5 admission. Variety of different kinds of boats and you learn so much of the history of boats and of the area as well. Something for adults and even has a few hands on activities for children. The museum is right off the water with a Beautiful view.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nicholas N. 1 year ago on Google
    Small hidden gem. Free for Detroit residents. Do you like ships? Boats? 19th and 20th century Navy retro-high-tech? Friendly front desk people. James McLean volunteer docent was a helpful and kind highlight. Check out my pics from the periscope, which was a fun challenge to shoot with my phone camera.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Paul S. 7 months ago on Google
    Great museum! Larger than you think it is. Depicts a great history of the boats and freighters on the great lakes.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Colby L. 2 years ago on Google
    My family and i loved it. We have a 3 year old and he really enjoyed it too. Great that it is free too. Highly recommend.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 David S. 1 year ago on Google
    This museum has many hands on exhibits for children and adults that immerse you into the geography and business of navigating the Great Lakes. Take the helm of a freighter navigating the Great Lakes, look through a real periscope from a submarine, see up close preserved hand carved woodworking from the Detroiiter III, or take a look at their collection of model ships. The museum is perched on the edge of the river and includes artifacts like the anchor from the Fitzgerald and cannons from the war of 1812.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 M B. 1 year ago on Google
    Dossin Great Lakes museum is a hidden gem on Belle Isle. And beautiful setting for events and weddings. Staff goes above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect for your big day! And the outdoor patio is perfect right on the Detroit River!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jessica C. 2 years ago on Google
    It's a gorgeous place and would be a unique venue to rent out!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Becky L. 2 years ago on Google
    This museum on Belle Isle is fun and free (donations only) to visit. Beautiful displays, fun hands on activities for the kids, and very informative.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alecia W. 5 months ago on Google • 55 reviews
    Lots of fun interactive ways to enjoy this museum at Bell Isle. I love bringing my son here on rainy days !

  • 4/5 Suchin G. 7 months ago on Google • 26 reviews
    Good museum for a quick history about the great lakes. Edmunds Fitzgerald and few of Detroit's steam ships. The highlight definitely was the ship SS William Clay Ford's full bridge with all instruments intact.

  • 5/5 Brad F. 1 month ago on Google • 10 reviews New
    One of the coolest little historical sites in Detroit. It's a REAL gem that I think gets slept on far too much. There's so much to learn, for both adults AND kids. My kid was so against going in because from the outside it's completely unassuming. Once she was in, she was HOOKED on how cool this place was. Dossin was a very memorable place from my childhood so being able to get my kid in and into the museum really touched on something special for me. I was blown away by the event space as well, event space in Detroit anywhere isn't really "cheap" but you will not find such an intimate space with private riverfront access for such reasonable rates. I'm already fantasizing about future events that I'd like to have there. Anyways, you can see I'm geeked, if you've read this far just visit and enjoy.

  • 5/5 Alexander D. 3 months ago on Google • 10 reviews New
    Great little musuem. Very friendly & informed staff, great exhibits & presented very well.

  • 5/5 Josh D. 1 month ago on Google • 6 reviews New
    Took my son for there homeschool day. Our guide was very knowledgeable and interacted great with all the kids. Awesome place, great exhibits, 5 stars

  • 5/5 Chuck K. 2 years ago on Google
    Me and my grandson loved this. The hands-on ship controls in the pilots room was an actual setup, the videos, everything was brought to life. My 7 yr old wants to return and learn more about the large Great Lakes Freighters. He got to steer a Freighter through the water. I am his new hero now, while he made me feel like i was a 7 yr old and not my actual 75 yrs old. His 12 yr old brother now wants to go .... guess who will be returning. I'm ready, just a wee bit tired now, lol.

  • 3/5 Angela Speece M. 2 months ago on Google • 4 reviews New
    Very disappointed that they are now charging admission. I understand that they need the money for upkeep, though it’s hard to justify a quick outing here with kids when the Belle Isle conservatory, nature center and aquarium are free. The parking lot was empty. I thought they were closed. They were not. But now I understand why. Very unfortunate. Hopefully they switch to “suggested donations.”

  • 5/5 Carole K. 5 months ago on Google
    What a nice find. Beautiful grounds with nice water views. Beautiful exhibits and well laid out. A lot to try and play around doing. Like learning to dock your own big ship. Many stairs and levels. Some areas not accessible by wheelchair or walkers. We played and spent 2 hours learning.

  • 5/5 Sara M. 2 years ago on Google
    This place was so fun! Hubby and I got to drive a freighter via simulation. Got to see what it is like up in a pilot house and learn about ships. Not to mention Miss Pepsi!

  • 4/5 Mrs B. 7 months ago on Google
    It's a cool place for a family outing and educational experience.

  • 5/5 Max B (. 8 months ago on Google
    Definitely worth the price of admission, (especially for groups). The museum had many interesting and interactive exhibits for all ages, including the various impressive models. Standouts would be the exhibits featuring the history of the Edmund Fitzgerald wreck, and the fantastic walk-through bridge of the William Clay Ford right up against the river. Had a great time and would definitely recommend!

  • 5/5 Anastasiya S. 2 years ago on Google
    I had my wedding here and it was amazing. Staff was super accommodating and friendly.

  • 5/5 PAUL R. 3 years ago on Google
    Really nice museum on Belle Isle. Worthy of a visit if you are in Detroit. Not too big, so it can be done in an hour or two. Lots of history relating to Great Lakes Shipping. Almost always someone available to talk about ships on the lakes. The gentleman on all of our visits can tell you when a ship will be passing the museum on the Detroit River in case you want to watch. When we were there, a 1,000 foot vessel was transiting the river.

  • 5/5 meikooceans 2 years ago on Google
    Upon entering, you're greeted by a massive room with elegant wood carvings. The museum itself is small but it's packed with informative things to see about travel and shipping on the great lakes. ADMISSION IS FREE. There is plenty to see including the pilot house from a actual freighter. It sure is worth the drive

  • 5/5 Natalie S. 2 years ago on Google
    The museum was so great!! I had no idea how much Detroit was involved in the war of 1812. There are so many miniatures and interactive exhibits inside. It kept us busy for about an hour and a half, though we could have stayed for longer. There's a whole room filled with maps preserved from the 1800-1900s to browse over, and a few videos to watch. Really cute date idea. We hit the conservatory and aquarium nearby afterwards, which were great too!

  • 4/5 Jessica B. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful spot on Belle Isle. Part of the museum is actually from an old cargo ship which is cool. Not super big but it's nice. Doesn't take long which is also nice.

  • 5/5 Carolynn K. 2 years ago on Google
    What a really wonderful museum. Hands on displays, informative and interactive. Very interesting and fun for all ages. Highly recommend this gem!


Call (313) 821-2661 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair rental
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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