Museums, galleries & stages / Belle Isle
Dossin Great Lakes Museum
A maritime museum on the Belle Isle shore where you can stand at the wheel of a real Great Lakes freighter.
01 / The story of this place
Make time for these
The museum opened on Belle Isle on July 24, 1960, on the former site of the J.T. Wing, and reopened after a renovation on May 18, 2013. It tells the story of Detroit's role in regional and national shipping. The star is the pilothouse of the freighter S.S. William Clay Ford, where you can take the wheel with the Detroit River out the window. The Gothic Room is the restored smoking lounge of the steamer S.S. City of Detroit III. Out on the lawn sits the bow anchor of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The Detroit Historical Society runs it, the same group behind the Detroit Historical Museum on Woodward.
- On Belle Isle since 1960
- The real pilothouse of the freighter William Clay Ford
- The Gothic Room from the steamer City of Detroit III
- The Edmund Fitzgerald's bow anchor outside
- $5 admission, free under 6
A closer look
Photos were taken at different times; images are resized and cropped on cards.
Is this your venue? Update this page for free ↗
¼ · Stay
Sleep right around the corner
Sources & fact check · Checked: 2026-10-23
An independently written bilingual guide. This collection is not an attendance-based ranking.
03 / Events
Events at this place
Published events automatically linked from our event guide. Times are local to the venue.
Oct 28, 2026, 5:30 PMMembers Night at the Museum: Detroit's Spooky Side
Jeff Pollock, executive director of Detroit History Tours and The Detroit History Club, tells tales of the Nain Rouge and other Detroit legends on Wednesday, October 28, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. It's a free Members Night during the Detroit Historical Society's Spooky Week, with advance registration required.
Oct 28, 2026, 5:30 PMMembers Night at the Museum: the Nain Rouge and Other Detroit Legends
Jeff Pollock, executive director of Detroit History Tours and The Detroit History Club, tells the tale of the Nain Rouge and other Detroit legends on Wednesday, October 28, at 5:30 p.m. The Detroit Historical Society members night is at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. It's sold out, and advance registration was required.
Oct 31, 2026, 11:00 AMGuided tour at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum
The Detroit Historical Society offers a docent-led tour of the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit on Saturday, October 31, at 11 a.m. It's a personal look at the city's maritime legacy, and the tour itself is free.
Oct 31, 2026, 1:00 PMGuided Tour at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum
The Detroit Historical Society offers a docent-led tour at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit on Saturday, October 31, at 1 p.m., exploring how the waterways shaped the city. The tour is free, but museum admission is separate.
Nov 7, 2026, 10:00 AMEdmund Fitzgerald Special Event Station Live Broadcast
The Livonia Amateur Radio Club runs Special Event Station W8F on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Watch operators reach out to ham radio fans worldwide in memory of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Adult tickets are $5.
Nov 7, 2026, 10:00 AMEdmund Fitzgerald Special Event Station
The Livonia Amateur Radio Club runs Special Event Station W8F on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Watch operators reach radio hobbyists around the world while remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald; adult tickets are $5.
Nov 8, 2026, 10:00 AMLost Mariners Brunch
The Detroit Historical Society hosts a brunch on Sunday, November 8, at 10 a.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit, honoring Great Lakes mariners who never made it home with a talk, music and lunch. Great Lakes balladeer Lee Murdock performs; general admission is $85.
Nov 8, 2026, 3:00 PMLost Mariners Remembrance Ceremony
The Detroit Historical Society and the Great Lakes Maritime Institute honor those lost on the Great Lakes on Sunday, November 8, at 3 p.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Admission is free.
Nov 10, 2026, 10:00 AMLost Mariners Day at the Dossin
The Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit opens its doors free of charge on Tuesday, November 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Detroit Historical Society marks the day in remembrance of Great Lakes mariners lost at sea.
Nov 10, 2026, 6:30 PMLost Mariners: An Evening of Remembrance
Detroit Historical Society hosts an evening of remembrance on Tuesday, November 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit, marking 51 years since the Edmund Fitzgerald sank. Expect a documentary screening, a Q&A and warm drinks; tickets are $20 for members, $25 general admission.
Nov 14, 2026, 11:00 AMGuided Tour
The Detroit Historical Society leads a guided tour on Saturday, November 14, at 11 a.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. It wraps up at noon.
Nov 14, 2026, 1:00 PMGuided Tour – Dossin Great Lakes Museum
Detroit Historical Society leads a guided tour on Saturday, November 14, at 1 p.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Tickets available online.
Nov 28, 2026, 11:00 AMGuided Tour
Detroit Historical Society leads a guided tour on Saturday, November 28, at 11 a.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Solid pick because it’s run by the Society; tickets required.
Nov 28, 2026, 1:00 PMGuided Tour
Detroit Historical Society leads a guided tour on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 1 p.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. A one-hour walkthrough with the local history team.
Dec 6, 2026, 2:00 PMGuided Tour
Detroit Historical Society hosts a guided tour on Sunday, December 6, at 2 p.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Walk the galleries with the folks who preserve the city’s history.
Dec 13, 2026, 2:00 PMGuided Tour
Detroit Historical Society hosts a guided tour on Sunday, December 13, at 2 p.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Guided visit with tickets available online.
Dec 20, 2026, 2:00 PMGuided Tour
Detroit Historical Society leads a guided tour on Sunday, December 20, at 2 p.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. It’s a one-hour walkthrough with expert guidance; get tickets from the organizer.
Dec 27, 2026, 2:00 PMGuided Tour
Detroit Historical Society leads a one-hour guided tour on Sunday, December 27, at 2 p.m. at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit. Led by the Society; tickets available from the organizer.
Keep exploring
Back to Detroit A–Z ↗Museums, galleries & stages / Greektown
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Detroit's Greek Orthodox cathedral on the edge of Greektown, with a parish story dating to 1910 and its own 707 East banquet hall.
Museums, galleries & stages
Art in Motion Ceramic Studio & Gallery
An independent ceramics studio and gallery on the Avenue of Fashion: wheel throwing, paint-your-own pottery and work by local artists.
Museums, galleries & stages / Bloomfield Hills
Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research
Cranbrook's archive and tour hub: guided visits to Saarinen House, Frank Lloyd Wright's Smith House and the landmark campus.