Exhibits
At the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, there is something for everyone! Explore the streets of old Manitowoc and learn about Wisconsin’s rich shipbuilding history. We have exquisite ship models, ship engines, interactives, children’s play areas and a real WWII submarine!
USS Cobia
WWII submarine USS Cobia is open year-round for tours! Visit our Admissions, Hours, Location page to learn more about the different types of tours offered and accessibility notes.
Maritime History Gallery
Explore the streets of old Manitowoc where shipbuilders, sailors and traders walked more than 150 years ago! Learn how Wisconsin shipyards contributed to our nation’s growth during the 19th and 20th centuries as well as how those technologies and designs changed over time.
Model Ship Gallery
Scale models, half-hull models, and quarterboards tell of Great Lakes sailing ships and freighters, past and present, in the Model Ship Gallery. This exhibit features a shipwreck diorama featuring Edmund Fitzgerald as it looks lying deep in the waters of Lake Superior.
Chief Wawatam Steam Engine
Step into the engine room of a Great Lakes ship in the early 1900s and see a 65-ton steam engine come to life! Built in 1911, this powerful triple-expansion steam engine was used by the ice-breaking car ferry Chief Wawatam to transport passengers, vehicles, and rail cars across the Straits of Mackinac.
Wisconsin-Built Boat Gallery
Renowned throughout the Great Lakes and the world, Wisconsin boat builders have a tradition of craftsmanship that goes back 150 years. Walk through the Wisconsin-Built Boat Gallery, presented by the Manitowoc Company, for a close-up view of actual boats that helped build that tradition.
Adriatic and the Birth of Self-Unloaders
New in 2023!
Located on the Museum’s lower level, this new exhibit is a permanent installation of self-unloading bucket technology that was salvaged from the shipwreck Adriatic in Sturgeon Bay. It also features an interactive element demonstrating how the technology worked using gears and a bucket conveyor system.
USS Cobia Below the Surface
Learn what life was like aboard Cobia during WWII, from the everyday mundane tasks to the times of sheer terror. Experience what it felt like to be in a submarine during a depth charging, the most feared anti-submarine weapon, as we recreate an actual battle from Cobia’s War Patrol log.
Wisconsin’s Underwater Treasures
Wisconsin’s Underwater Treasures highlights shipwrecks of the mid-lake region of Lake Michigan. This exhibit features new interactive kiosks and broader selection of artifacts from culturally significant shipwrecks in the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary!
Waterways Room
The Waterways Room, presented by Burger Boat Company, allows guests of all ages to launch boats and navigate through Wisconsin’s maritime landscape! Learn how locks and dams work, build a tower of water pipes, or use a blower sail your boats down the rivers.
Attack of the Sea Lampreys!
Sea lampreys are native to the Atlantic Ocean, but these eel-like fish slithered into the Great Lakes through shipping canals. Check out these spooky invasive species and learn about their impact on our Wisconsin waterways. A tank of live sea lamprey is featured in this exhibit seasonally!
Little Lakefarers Room
Presented by Aurora Healthcare, this hands-on environment is a special place for young children and their parents to relax, explore, look through a periscope, play maritime games, and read about life on and near the water.
Riverside Gallery & Other Temporary Exhibits
Our lower Riverside Gallery hosts special exhibits throughout the year. Click here to view the current exhibit and other temporary displays.