What a beautiful lighthouse and the property around it is beautiful. The staff are what made it…read morewonderful. Very friendly and knowledgeable.

Came here while we camped at Harrisville State Park. From the state park, it's around 10 minutes…read moredrive to here. Cute little lighthouse. There is a old school house there, and the staff inside is super nice and told us a lot about the education condition here in the past. The light house has a little museum and gift shop. You only need to pay for ticket if you want to climb to the top of lighthouse. My friends have been up there before, and said not really worth climbing. But the old school house and museum are interesting enough. I'd suggest to come if you ever come to this area.

What a delightful, hands-on maritime museum. Free admission with very friendly, helpful guides…read more Lots of fun!

This place is free (unless you take the shipwreck tour which is $30) - with a ton of stuff for…read morepeople of all ages; lots of information on shipwrecks, reading material, stuff salvaged from the wrecks, maps, exhibits. Stuff for kids - hands on game; area to climb through with tubes, slides, etc... a boat about to be shipwrecked complete with audio. Takes about an hour or a little more. We also did the shipwreck tour... 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 there 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. ------------- p.s. - Yelp also has something for the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary - it is the same place as this.

This place is free (unless you take the shipwreck tour which is $30) - with a ton of stuff for…read morepeople of all ages; lots of information on shipwrecks, reading material, stuff salvages from the wrecks, maps, exhibits. Stuff for kids - hands on game; area to climb through with tubes, slides, etc... a boat about to be shipwrecked complete with audio. Takes about an hour or a little more. We also did the shipwreck tour... 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 there 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. ------------- p.s. - Yelp also has something for the Great Lakes Maritime Museum - it is the same place as this.

Wonderful National treasure. The movies were excellent and the boat ride great…read more Only recommendation I would have is that it would be great to have more exhibits in the museum. Maybe you could have a curator who would work with divers to find treasures hidden in private collections.

This is a wonderful little museum in Alpena with some unique exhibits. They have a Foucault…read morependulum (only one of 5 in Michigan), a fine collection of Great Lakes Native American Artifacts, the original Besser block Machine, and limestone fossils. At certain times of the year, you can visit separate older buildings such as a bank and school. Also inside is a "old tyme" downtown Alpena with storefronts. It is really well done and well kept. Warning: if you are an animal lover, the lower level has a large amount of animals from a taxidermist that you may wish to avoid.

I've gone back multiple times, I enjoy it, I enjoy the new exhibits that they keep rotating, it's a…read moregreat value.

Very cool and interesting preservation of decommissioned ship near frozen in time. Peaceful setting…read moreand lots of interesting tidbits to take in. Plan to take a couple hours here if you like observing the details and historical displays.

Visited this week and was surprised to how open this museum is. So often everything is behind glass…read moreand you can't experience or touch anything. This ship is open to explore and to feel how it would be to be in the Navy. It was great to be able to explore the whole ship from the engine rooms, machinist shop and dining area to the quarters of a captain and the bunk rooms of the entry level seaman (apologies for not knowing the correct terminology). Definitely recommend. The ship is showing its age but expected as it has seen war from the world wars to 9-11. She's still a beauty. Also bathrooms are clean/next to the admissions area/gift shop

I have come to and enjoyed Lumberman's Monument many times over the years. First with my kids and…read morefast forward some thirty plus years to present day with my grandkids. The monument and out buildings give you a very nice history of this area spanning from the logging years in Michigan back in the late 1800's/early 1900's through the FDR years where youth/education programs were based in this area to more modern times of the US Forest Service and their work in preserving our great national/state forests in this area and their work in containing forest fires in this region over the years. Additionally there are interactive logging related displays that are quite fun and educational for adults and children alike. Aside from the the historical/educational aspects of this park there is amazing elevated scenic overlooks of the Ausable river that are some of the most beautiful scenic views I have seen in Michigan or anywhere for that matter. These are the sort of views you see in post cards and are worth the trip here alone. Finally there is the huge sand dune that runs down to the base of the Ausable. Literally just seconds to go down with gravity doing most of the work and many tortuous minutes to climb back up as it is literally two steps up and one step back as you fight the shifting sand under your feet. Great for kids but not so much for a sixty something old retiree. I have done this hill many times over the years but not this last time and my knees/lungs/muscles thanked me for for not doing it this last time.... Overall a great spot to learn some history about Michigan and see some of the most scenic views this state has to offer. A trip/experience that should not be missed if you are in this area. Five stars +

This is a beautiful place on the ausable River. If you get the chance do stop and take a look…read morearound. They have a cute little gift shop with very knowledgeable people of the area, and they have a couple interesting games for the kids. A nice little History museum nothing real big but definitely informational. The view of the River from the top is wonderful but if you're able and I do mean able, take the stairs all the way down. The views right on the riverfront as well as The boathouse is something to see.