Museum Ship Schoonmaker, Tug Ohio Now Open for Season
TOLEDO, OH – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is thrilled to announce the reopening of the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and Museum Tug Ohio for the 2025 season today, Thursday, May 1st. We are excited to share once again the rich history and maritime heritage that thrives aboard our iconic boats.
“Our team and community always look forward to the seasonal opening of our Museum Boats,” said Ellen Kennedy, Director of Museum Operations at the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “Our visitors eagerly anticipate this time of year, and we can’t wait to immerse them in the living history that our vessels embody.”
The boats, which undergo seasonal closure over the winter months, will be open for public tours between May 1st and October 31st. Visitors can explore the 617-foot cargo ship built in 1911 and the historic tug built in 1903, gaining insight into life on the lakes through the 20th century.
In addition to time aboard the vessels, guests are encouraged to explore our exhibit galleries, which showcase captivating stories through stunning photography, over 300 remarkable artifacts, immersive audiovisual displays, and interactive exhibits, offering a truly unforgettable experience.
In addition to the boats’ opening, the museum will be open for summer hours Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Also, save the date for the public grand opening of our Second Wave expansion on Saturday, June 28th.
For those eager to embark on this journey through history, tickets can be pre-purchased at nmglstore.org or purchased upon arrival inside the Museum at the front desk. No tickets are sold on the vessels themselves, and anyone boarding the ships needs a wristband.
National Museum of the Great Lakes
Two groups offer raffles for trips on the Edwin H. Gott
The Lake Superior Marine Museum Association and The Soo Locks Visitors’ Center Association are raffling off a round-trip cruise on the 1,000-footer Edwin H. Gott.
Visit these websites or see fliers in the gallery below.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1052918876872355&set=a.458641912966724
https://www.lsmma.com/
