Museum History
Founded in 1970 as the Manitowoc Submarine Memorial Association, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum has grown into one of the largest maritime museums in the Midwest. In addition to celebrating the maritime heritage of the Manitowoc – Two Rivers area and the submarines built here during World War II, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum is now a leader in preserving the maritime history of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region.
With over 60,000 square feet of space, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum invites all people to connect with our waterways through interactive exhibits, engaging programming and a world-class collection. Visit the museum today or explore our online archives to dive into Wisconsin’s rich maritime history.