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 [...]
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 [...]
On Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26, you can catch “Old Boats and New Adventures,” an episode of Great Lakes Now from Detroit PBS. On the next episode of Great Lakes Now, you will sail Lake Huron in a work boat designed centuries ago, bring a historic passenger ship back to its former glory, [...]
This presentation features Stephen D. Tongue, author of Lanterns & Lifeboats - A History of Thunder Bay Island and takes a deeper look into the "cradle" of Alpena's history. It is co-hosted with the Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse Preservation Society (TBILPS). Beginning with the voyage of Le Griffin in 1679, Thunder Bay Island has provided [...]
Marine Science Lightning Talks: Discoveries Across Our Sanctuaries Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026 Time: 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM Location: GLMHC Theater, Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center (500 W. Fletcher St, Alpena, MI) Cost: Free & Open to the Public (All Ages Welcome) Join us at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center for a fast-paced, [...]
Celebrate Alpena’s rich nautical history at this year’s Maritime Festival! Returning with an exciting new twist, the festival takes over the waterfront from Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23. This year’s lineup features 2-hour tall ship excursions, deck tours, hands-on family activities, Great Lakes exhibitors, the Battle of the Paddles river race and rooftop [...]
🤿 Vintage Dive Days: Double Hose Regulator Experience Step back in diving history Are you a certified scuba diver? Jump in on a unique opportunity to experience classic scuba diving using double-hose regulators as part of the events happening at the 2026 Thunder Bay Maritime Festival. Led by the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), [...]