Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum facts for kids
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Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
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Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum complex
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Whitefish Point Light |
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| Nearest city | Shelldrake, Michigan |
| Area | 8.27 acres (3.35 ha) |
| Built | 1985 |
| Architectural style | Iron pile lighthouse |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000947 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 28, 1973 |
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is a special place where you can learn about shipwrecks and the brave people who worked on the Great Lakes. It's located at the Whitefish Point Light Station in Chippewa County, Michigan. This spot is about 11 miles (18 km) north of Paradise.
The land where the museum stands is shared by three groups: the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS), the Michigan Audubon Society (MAS), and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The GLSHS runs the museum. Inside, you'll find amazing items from shipwrecks found in the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve. A very special item is the bell from the famous SS Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck. When you visit, you can also tour old buildings that show what life was like for sailors and rescue workers on the Great Lakes.
Contents
History of Whitefish Point
Early Days at Whitefish Point
Whitefish Point has been important for ships for a long time. A lighthouse has been shining there since 1848! The United States Coast Guard (USCG) had people working at Whitefish Point until 1971. That's when the lighthouse equipment became automatic. In 1973, the Whitefish Point light, which is the oldest active light on Lake Superior, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historic site.
Groups Working at Whitefish Point
In 1976, the Michigan Audubon Society (MAS) got permission to use the Whitefish Point Light Station. They wanted to study birds that migrate (travel) through the area. Two years later, the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (WPBO) was created to watch these birds.
Also in 1978, a group of divers formed the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS). They wanted to learn about and share the history of ships on the Great Lakes. In 1983, the GLSHS got a long-term agreement from the Coast Guard to open a museum at the Whitefish Point Light Station. They started getting money from the government to help with their work in 1984.
Changes and Challenges
In 1990, the GLSHS made an agreement to let everyone visit Whitefish Point. This included public access to Lake Superior, parking, and restrooms.
Later, there was a disagreement about some shipwreck items. The state of Michigan said the GLSHS had taken items from shipwrecks without permission. In 1993, they reached an agreement. The museum was allowed to display these items, which were loaned back to them by the state.
Different groups, including the local township, the Audubon Society, and the GLSHS, started planning how to best use the land at Whitefish Point. They wanted to protect the special environment there.
In 1995, the GLSHS announced plans to build a new part of the museum just for items from the Edmund Fitzgerald. On July 4, 1995, the GLSHS helped bring up the bell from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck. This bell became a very important part of the museum, honoring the crew members and all sailors lost on the Great Lakes. There was some discussion about whether the bell should travel to other places, but it stayed at the museum as a special memorial.
Sharing the Land
In 1995, the Michigan Audubon Society and the Bird Observatory suggested that the entire Whitefish Point Light Station should be given to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This idea was supported by many people who wanted to protect the area from too much building.
Finally, in 1996, a law was passed that allowed the Coast Guard to share the Whitefish Point property. The GLSHS received about 8 acres (3.3 hectares) to tell the story of maritime history. The Bird Observatory got about 2.7 acres (1.1 hectares) for their bird research. The USFWS received 33 acres (13 hectares) to manage as part of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. This means all three groups now work together to care for Whitefish Point. The law also says that any new building or changes must be carefully planned and get approval from all groups, keeping the area natural and historic.
Planning for the Future
In 1998, the GLSHS announced plans for new museum sections. They wanted a theater and a larger gift shop. In 1999, they built a large gift shop and office building.
In 2000, the Michigan Audubon Society filed a lawsuit, saying the GLSHS was building too much. The lawsuit was settled in 2001. All the groups agreed to create a "Human Use/Natural Resource Management Plan." This plan helps guide how the land is used and any new buildings are planned. It makes sure that Whitefish Point stays special for both people and nature.
Museum Complex
Since 1984, the GLSHS has received many grants to fix up and improve the historic buildings at Whitefish Point Light Station. These buildings now help tell the stories of Great Lakes maritime history, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Life-Saving Service. Many of these buildings are open to the public if you pay an admission fee to the museum. The museum complex includes both newer buildings and the old historic ones.
Modern Structures
- Museum: The GLSHS opened its first museum exhibits in 1985. The main museum building was built in 1986. It's the second largest building at Whitefish Point. Here, you can see items found from local shipwrecks, including the famous bell from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. The museum also displays items loaned by the state of Michigan from other shipwrecks in the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve, like the Comet, John B. Cowle, Drake, Samuel Mather, Miztec, Myron, Niagara, John M. Osborn, Sagamore, Superior City, and Vienna.
- Gift Shop Building/Administrative Building: This is the largest building at Whitefish Point, built in 1999. The main floor is a gift shop, the lower level has public restrooms, and the top floor holds the GLSHS offices.
Historic Structures
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- Light Tower: The first light tower was built in 1848 from stone. It used whale oil for its light! But Lake Superior's storms were too strong for it. So, in 1861, President Lincoln ordered a new steel tower to be built, which is the one you see today. The light has had different lenses over the years. In 2011, a new LED light was installed. The GLSHS has worked to restore the tower, including removing old paint. Since 2010, visitors can climb the light tower for a small fee. Even though it's automated, the Whitefish Point light still helps guide ships today.
- Fog Signal Building: The original fog signal building was destroyed in a storm in 1935. A new brick building was put up in 1937. This building used to hold big machines that made loud fog horns sound. The Coast Guard stopped using fog signals from Whitefish Point in 1995. The GLSHS has restored the outside of this building, and they now use it for maintenance. It's not open to the public.
- Lookout Tower: This tower was built in 1923 at the Life-saving Station. People would watch from here 24 hours a day during shipping season. The Coast Guard stopped using it in 1955. The GLSHS moved and restored the lookout tower in 1998. It is not open to the public.
- Lightkeeper's Quarters: This two-story house was built in 1861 for the lightkeeper and his family. Later, it was changed into a two-family home for the lightkeeper and his assistant. Coast Guard workers lived here until 1970. In 1996, the GLSHS restored the building to look like it did in the 1920s. You can visit it with your museum admission.
- Assistant U.S. Coast Guard Chief's Quarters: This two-story house was built in 1925 for the light station Chief. From 1985 until the main museum was built in 1987, the GLSHS showed shipwreck items on the first floor. Now, the first floor is a 35-seat theater. Here, you can watch a 20-minute video about the SS Edmund Fitzgerald as part of your museum tour.
- Crews Quarters: This two-story building was originally in a spot where the shore was eroding. It was moved away from Whitefish Point, but the GLSHS bought it and moved it back in 1990. They moved it again in 1999 to fit with the historic area. The GLSHS has renovated this building. It is used for overnight stays for members and is not open to the general public.
- Boat House: The Coast Guard built three boat houses at Whitefish Point. The one that remains was moved in the 1950s. The GLSHS finished restoring it in 2001. Inside, you can see a full-size replica of a 26-foot (7.9 m) surfboat. The building also has exhibits about the U.S. Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard rescue stations. This is part of the museum tour.
- Frame Storage Building: The Coast Guard built this building to store firewood. The GLSHS now uses it as a gift shop.
- Chief's Garage: The Coast Guard built this 3-car garage in 1940. The Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (WPBO) now uses it as their "Owls Roost" gift shop, a bird banding lab, and a place for educational tours.
- Other Historic Structures: An 1861 steel lamp oil house and a 1910 alcohol house are still on the site. These buildings were used to store fuel for the light before it got electricity in 1931.
Other Features at Whitefish Point
Whitefish Point is a popular place for many activities! People love to watch ships, look for birds, and collect rocks here. Some important features include:
- Whitefish Point Unit of Seney National Wildlife Refuge: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) manages 33 acres (13 hectares) of land here. This land is part of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. They have also added more land to protect the habitat of the piping plover, a special bird. Whitefish Point is known for its unique "Wooded Dune and Swell Complex" landscape, which supports many different plants and animals, including various trees and wildflowers like lady slippers. Whitefish Point is also on a major path for migrating birds, making it a "Globally Important Bird Area." In 2009, piping plovers started nesting at Whitefish Point again, which was the first time in at least 20 years!
- Whitefish Point Bird Observatory: This group works as a non-profit organization connected to the Michigan Audubon Society. They do education and research about birds at Whitefish Point.
Location
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is located at the very end of Whitefish Point Road. It's about 11 miles (18 km) north of Paradise, Michigan, in the northeastern part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It sits right where Whitefish Point Road ends and Whitefish Bay meets Lake Superior.
See also
- Great Lakes Storm of 1913 and Shipwrecks of the 1913 Great Lakes storm
- List of Great Lakes museum and historic ships
