This will be Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary’s (TBNMS) fifth year welcoming Viking Expedition ships into the port of Alpena. The 665-foot cruise ships carry 378 guests and 256 crew members. The sister-ships Polaris and Octantis each anchor in Thunder Bay and use tender boats to bring guests to shore. They come ashore at The [...]
This is your chance to win a gorgeous 17-foot long wooden kayak with seat and two hatch covers, handcrafted by Heritage Coast Sailing and Rowing, Inc., Community Boat Builders in Tawas, Michigan. Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. Proceeds support Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Heritage Coast’s Community Boat [...]
Join us at the Sanctuary Cider Release PartyWhen: Thursday, June 4 at 6:00 PMWhere: Presque Isle Farms Cidery (Downtown Alpena) The newest English cider, celebrating the rich maritime history of Northeast Michigan, will finally be available! The latest Sanctuary Cider highlights a piece of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: the historic schooner William H. Rounds, [...]
WHEN: June 6, 2026 | 1 P.M. BACKUP DATES: June 7, 8 and 9 WHERE: Lake Superior, approx. 35 miles north of Munising, MI LANDING PAGE: https://greatlakesnow.org/hiddenbelow *the live stream will also play in the theater of the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center DESCRIPTION: Join a livestreamed expedition to the deepest point in the Great [...]
Inside the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center is an incredible and powerful tool that is too often missed. This is your chance to receive an interactive presentation of Science on a Sphere! There are less than 200 of these in the United States and Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) is home to one of [...]
Join us for June's "The Sanctuary Presents," featuring Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum Director Mike Horn as he recaps the beginnings, new location, and continued growth of this Rogers City museum. As a retired Captain on the Great Lakes and ocean, he can also speak to the unique hazards which often manifest on the Lakes [...]
Champion freediver spearfisher Kimi Werner is making her way across the Great Lakes, and Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is her first stop! Join us on Thursday, July 2, at 6:00 p.m. at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in downtown Alpena for a special evening with this Hawaii native, whose work brings together adventure, [...]
Date: Friday, July 10 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center Cost: Free and open to the public Take a deep dive into our underwater worlds during an evening of freshwater and ocean storytelling. Join acclaimed filmmakers Jennifer Idol and Alex Rose for a special screening of four short films from their Protected [...]
Date: Saturday, July 11 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Location: Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center Cost: Free and open to the public (best suited for ages 5–9) The Protected Waters (see July 10 event) adventure continues with a hands-on workshop designed for young explorers! Children ages 5 to 9 are invited to discover the [...]
Experience Living History: Tall Ship Lettie G. Howard Visits Alpena! Dates: Saturday, July 18 & Sunday, July 19 Location: Alpena Waterfront Step back in time and experience history firsthand! Tall ships have navigated the Great Lakes for all of America’s 250 years, moving people, goods, and ideas that shaped our nation. Now, it’s your turn to step onto [...]