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Come explore the shipwrecks of Thunder Bay!

Ticket prices, ages 6 - 12, ages 5 & under, charter prices, classroom cruise, private charter, private charter (peak season), boat departs promptly at departure time. we recommend arriving to the boat 15 minutes prior to departure..

The boat is located on the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail behind the NOAA building at 500 West Fletcher Street in Alpena Michigan.

Please check in at the front desk in the NOAA visitor center at lease 15 minutes prior to departure.

Home to the nation’s only freshwater National Marine Sanctuary, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary interprets hundreds of years of nautical commerce which have created a rich landscape of maritime history and culture in the Alpena area. A destination maritime heritage center with exhibits and programs, museums with nautical exhibits, seven area lighthouses and maritime trails, tours and events bring the stories of ship captains, sailors and lighthouse keepers to life.

Shallow Shipwreck Exploration

If you are not a certified scuba diver you can still explore these underwater treasures by visiting the shallow shipwrecks of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Wrecks that are almost guaranteed to be visible in most conditions include the Portland near Bell Bay, the Albany in Albany Bay, and the Joseph S. Faye can be found with partial remains on the shoreline near the 40-Mile Point Lighthouse. Kayak, canoe, Stand Up Paddle Board, and snorkel some of the shallow water wrecks with this handy guide:  Shallow Shipwreck Adventure Guide

Paddle Safety

Be safe! Before heading out on Lake Huron in a paddle vessel, check these basic safety tips to ensure a great adventure.  Lake Huron Paddle Safety Guidelines & Tips

Take a closer look  at Shipwreck Alley and this nationally significant collection of shipwrecks and see the vivid underwater landscape off the coast of Northeast Michigan.

A Stand Up Paddleboarder glides over the Albany shipwreck just north of Alpena. Photo courtesy PhoticZone.

Join us every Independence Day for a celebration like no other. The Thunder Bay Maritime Festival occurs every July 4th, and features glass-bottom boat tours, helicopter rides, music, and the popular Cardboard Boat Regatta. Thunder Bay Maritime Festival

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary preserves a national treasure, nearly 200 historic shipwrecks in and around the bay. Lake Huron’s cold, fresh water preserves many of these shipwrecks intact and in water depths ranging from a few inches to 200 feet, making the sanctuary a popular destination for divers, snorkelers and kayakers. You can explore the history and archaeology of these wrecks at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, the Sanctuary’s 20,000 square foot river front headquarters. Exhibits on Great Lakes maritime history and shipwrecks include the new “Exploring the Shipwreck Century” exhibit, a 9,000 square ft. permanent exhibit where visitors can experience elements of a traditional maritime museum combined with a hands-on discovery center featuring life-sized recreations of an historic Great Lakes schooner and shipwreck sites, artifact displays, and interactive learning stations on technology and diving. Also featuring a sanctuary store, state-of-the-art education spaces, high-definition theater, and archaeological conservation lab. The admission-free Center is a great destination and the best place to begin exploring Thunder Bay. Please call for current hours of operation. While visiting Alpena, you may also want to explore the Thunder Bay Sanctuary Research Collection, one of the largest archival collections of Great Lakes maritime history in existence, located at the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library.

500 W. Fletcher St., Alpena (989) 356-8805 Admission: Free | Hours: Open year round, check website for hours. Website:  http://www.thunderbay.noaa.gov/

Russ Green snorkels the Albany shipwreck found in 4-5 feet of water, just north of Alpena. Photo courtesy David Ruck, office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

A diver explores the EB Allen shipwreck in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Photo courtesy Tane Casserley, office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

Glass-bottom Boat Shipwreck Tours: The Legends of Thunder Bay

Explore the shipwrecks of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary with Alpena Shipwreck Tours. The crystal clear waters and the large ‘glass bottom’ viewing wells allow you to ‘dive’ the wrecks – without getting wet. During our 2 hour cruise you will experience the magnificently preserved shipwrecks and the scenic shorelines of Thunder Bay. Learn the exciting tales of many famous ships and the history, legends and lore of Lake Huron.  Get schedule and order tickets here.

500 W. Fletcher St., Alpena (989) 356-8805 Adults – $35, Age 12 and under – $10, Group Rates: $25 per ticket when 20 or more adult tickets are purchased online at least 3 days before cruise. Open: late May – early October,  check website for hours .

The Lady Michigan glass-bottom boat treats passengers to underwater discovery of shipwrecks in Thunder Bay. Photo courtesy, PhoticZone.

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Alpena Area Convention & Visitor Bureau

Alpena Shipwreck Tours

Review Highlights

“ We saw 4 wrecks and the crew were happy to go over as many times as the needed to let everyone see through the glass bottom . ” in 2 reviews

“ The tour folks were great in making sure that everyone had a chance to see the wreck before moving to the next wreck. ” in 3 reviews

“ Tour is in Thunder Bay - just outside Alpena - you leave from the museum. ” in 3 reviews

Location & Hours

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Alpena, MI 49707

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Overall rating

Connected to the Thunder Bay Maritime Museum - 2 hours - well worth it - need to get lucky enough for a sunny day. Saw 4 wrecks via a glass-bottom boat; guides very knowledgeable and easy to approach. The Captain added some commentary; but we couldn't hear him through the audio. Tour is in Thunder Bay - just outside Alpena - you leave from the museum. Tours are at 10:00, 1:00 and, 4:00 My recommendation - get to the museum 90 minutes before the shipwreck tour - tour the museum, take the tour - and stop in the gift shop on the way out. We got there at 11:30 and left at 3:15.

Had a great experience and would certainly recommend if you're in the area and want to have a look at all the shipwrecks without having to leave the boat! We started in the museum, which was very informative and gave us a great background before the tour. I loved the interactive tour which allowed us to climb aboard the ship and see what people sailing in the 1800s would have experienced. You probably only need about 30 minutes to get through the museum but you could definitely spend more time there. We boarded the boat and were greeted by a large painting of a shark, which seemed a little strange for the Great Lakes, but the Captain assured us we wouldn't be seeing anything that wild! The ship was smooth sailing and even if you aren't great on boats I think you could easily stomach this ride. We saw 4 wrecks and the crew were happy to go over as many times as the needed to let everyone see through the glass bottom. If I had any criticism it would be of the boat, where the glass bottom is a bit limited, but we were still able to take turns and see everything. The boat departed and returned right on time, and although I'm sure the snorkeling and diving are great this is another awesome option to check out "shipwreck alley!"

See all photos from Bailey Elise M. for Alpena Shipwreck Tours

Unless your going to be in Alpena for a week or longer DON'T plan on the Shipwreck Boat Tour, because it practically never runs. They apparently need absolutely perfect weather to go out. Two years in a row we have come across the state just to find out they weren't going out. Last year we tried to call to check before leaving but the phone would just ring, nobody would answer. They claimed the Coast Guard was doing inspections even though it was the end of the season. This year we made reservations and left my phone # so they could call us if they canceled. I left my phone on by my bed and no call during the night. In the morning to verify I checked my voice mail and no messages. We travel across the state and get there to see a sign stating they weren't going out today. When confronted they tried to claim they did call and leave a message. BS! They tried to claim bad weather. Again BS. The weather was perfect out. The bay barely had any waves. If you don't want to do the tours then just stop doing them. Don't at the last minute go nah I don't feel like working again. I'll cancel again for the 100th time this summer. It is a shame that the museum is connected to the boat tour because the museum is 4 1/2 stars. The Boat tour is 1 star because I can't leave 0 stars. They have lost a customer for life. Not planning on ever trying this again. Alpena is great. The Boat Tour people just plain suck. Lastly they have bad customer service. On the phone the guy I dealt with was hard to get through too on our problems and why we needed a call. The next day the same guy was indifferent to our plight. Across the state to do this and ehh whatever. You could offer a discount for future tickets. Half off maybe. Nope you get a whatever.

Great experience. There were four of us that decided it would be a nice day for a tour since it was sunny and beautiful. It was $30 for each adult and you could sit on the very top of inside. The tour guides when we went were awesome. They were funny and knowledgeable. Even gave us ideas for what to do in Alpena. Kind of hard to see the shipwrecks with all of the people, but it was still intriguing to hear about the history. The few hours is worth the money.

Had a perfect day for the tour. Stopped on Tuesday midday to do the 1pm tour and it was full. So we booked the Wednesday 10am. What a great plan. Our boat was only half full, so lots of time to wander and see the wrecks. It was a short ride out the channel to the first wreck. It was a bit difficult to see, since it was in deeper water. The second and third wrecks were much easier to see in shallower water. The tour folks were great in making sure that everyone had a chance to see the wreck before moving to the next wreck. It may not have been as fun if it had been a full boat.

Great boat tour and wonderful museum. My 8 year old son is fascinated with shipwrecks and loved it all. The boat crew is friendly and very informative. Museum is free and is very well done. Highly recommend!!!

The boat ride and tour were well worth the money. The only thing was the crew seemed like they did not want to be there. There was a tall blonde and a tall dark haired girl that really did not want to be there. However Abby did a great job with her stories but she should skip the jokes. I think it is well worth the trip.

Meah....I expected more and I have several suggestions (which I called and gave to them) for improving the experience. 1. The guy (Perry) who worked below was excellent. He did a great job of answering questions and making sure things were under control in the viewing area. that's the good news. 2. At the same time Perry kept telling folks to not hit their head on the TV monitor fastened to the end of one of the two stanchions (posts) at the end of the viewing area in the boat bottom. The tv (only one viewing area had a tv although the other was obviously missing as there was a mounting plate for the other one) could have been mounted up higher and the tv could have had a soft foam or other padding on the sharp corner. Problem solved better than telling "don't hit your head on the monitor" 50 times. 3. But there was no need for the tv anyway because it never was turned on....and there lies the real disappointment. The dialogue from the tour guide topside was overcome by the sound of the engines and bow thrusters as the boat was driven back and forth and side to side to keep the boat over the wreck below. And as I told the people at the Shipwreck Tour Company when I called them later, if the tv were there and turned on, they could have scrolled a description of what the hell were were supposed to be looking at on the bottom and the loss of the dude upstairs talking would not have been a big deal. As it was I still haven't got a clue as to what we were looking at. 4. And I expected to look at maybe 5 to 10 wrecks. Not! We saw one, then the couldn't find the second and drove around for a while and gave up, then they did find another. A shipwreck tour with hardly any wrecks to see is just another high priced boat ride. 2 wrecks I still don't know what they were and a 90 minute boat ride for $30....hmmmm. So I called the company a day later and suggested the above ways to improve the experience. Time will tell if they heed the advice. I wanted it to be a fun learning experience. I wanted to know more about Thunder Bay and the history of the ships that sank there. What I got was a high priced boat ride and all I learned was how it could have been improved.

A great experience for maritime and history buffs. Make sure to go on a clear day. Probably not good for younger kids.....too didactic. Glass bottom boat interesting but wrecks are far from clearly seen. Don't think youngsters will be interested. Thunder Bay is beautiful. The boat is comfortable and the tour is just the right length. Knowledgeable staff. Safe adventure.

We went on one of the last days of the season. The staff was so nice and helpful and the weather couldn't have been better. We didn't know that it was attached to the museum which has no admission fee. We wish we had gotten there a little bit earlier to enjoy the museum but was able to spend time there after the tour. The staff was extremely courteous and made sure everybody got to see the wreck before they would move onto the next site. They narrated everything but made sure every question was answered. It was an enjoyable day and well worth every penny

3 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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Alpena Shipwreck Tours

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ALPENA SHIPWRECK TOURS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Alpena Shipwreck Tours

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Alpena Shipwreck Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

GET INTO YOUR SANCTUARY

Come explore the shipwrecks of thunder bay.

888-469-4696

The boat is located on the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail behind the NOAA building at 500 West Fletcher Street in Alpena Michigan.

Please check in at the front desk in the visitor center at lease 15 minutes prior to departure.

Questions? Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page .

Boat departs promptly at departure time. We recommend arriving to the boat 15 minutes prior to departure.

Ages 6 - 12, ages 5 & under, daily shipwreck cruise.

May 14 – June 9 9:00 AM Saturdays & Sundays ONLY

June 10 – September 4 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM & 3:00 PM DAILY

September 5 – October 9:00 AM, DAILY

Classroom Cruise

Private charter, private charter (peak season).

Alpena Shipwreck Tours

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Alpena Shipwreck Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

• Visitor Center
• Programs & Events
• Places to Go
• Things to Do
• Great Lakes Maritime Collection Archive
• Mooring Buoys
• Regulations
• Condition Reports
• Facilitating Science
• Expeditions
• School Programs
• Public Programs
• Teacher Resources
• Advisory Council
• News Archives
• Management Plan
• Maritime Heritage Center

Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center

Experience the rich history of the Great Lakes by exploring the exhibits at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. Feel the power of a Lake Huron storm while you walk the deck of a life-size schooner or "swim" over a shipwreck in the dive tubes! With over 10,000 square feet of exhibit space there is something for everyone, including families, tour groups, and students. The visitor center, open all year, is located in historic downtown Alpena along the Thunder Bay River. Admission is free of charge. Glass-bottom boat tours ticketing inside visitor center.

Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center 500 W. Fletcher Street Alpena, Michigan 49707 (989) 884-6200

October 1 - April 30

Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm

Saturday & Sunday 10am - 4pm

May 1 - September 30

Open Daily 8am - 5pm

Note: The visitor center is occasionally closed for special events and facility rentals . To check the schedule in advance of your visit, contact (989) 884-6200 or [email protected] .

RaulersonGirlsTravel

Take a boat ride on the alpena shipwreck tours.

• On 24February2015

Table of Contents

Alpena Shipwreck Tours Information and Museum

You can order tickets online and save your spots at Alpena Shipwreck Tours . The main building houses the museum.  We arrived early for our time slot so; we got to spend some time looking at the exhibits. Open hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays, it opens at noon.

Alpena Shipwreck Boat Tour

Thunder Bay

The Shipwrecks in Thunder Bay

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We have tickets to the shipwreck tour already but haven’t been able to use them. How do we make a reservation when the office is indefinately closed? We can’t buy the tickets on line to secure our space, we already have tickets! I’d hate to drive 40 miles there and not have a space reserved. Also is the only tour at 10 am? What about Sunday’s? Is there a tour on Sunday? It would be nice to talk to a person to answer out questions. I would like to use these tickets tomorrow!

It looks like they are only doing one tour a day at 10 am. Have you tried calling them directly at 888-469-4696? I hope you can use your tickets as it is a wonderful boat ride and tour.

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Alpena Shipwreck Tours

• See all photos

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

ALPENA SHIPWRECK TOURS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Alpena Shipwreck Tours

• See all photos

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Alpena Shipwreck Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)