Wisconsin Maritime Museum

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum is a public building with exhibitions about Great Lakes shipping history, submarines, and shipbuilding across several floors. Multiple galleries display artifacts, equipment, and information related to regional maritime activities.

The museum began in the late 1960s as a submarine memorial before expanding into a comprehensive institution dedicated to maritime history in the region. This growth allowed it to preserve and share the broader story of shipping and shipbuilding.

The museum shows how water and ships were central to life in Wisconsin. Visitors see objects, photographs, and documents that tell the stories of sailors, shipbuilders, and submarine crews who worked and lived in the region.

The museum sits near the waterfront and is easy to locate by following signs toward the harbor area. Plan to spend several hours to view the different galleries, especially if you want to tour the submarine on the grounds.

The USS Cobia submarine is open to visitors and contains radar equipment originally used during World War II. This restored vessel offers a rare glimpse into life aboard a working warship from that era.

Location: Manitowoc

Inception: 1968

Opening Hours: September Monday[1] - May Monday[-1] Thursday-Monday 10:00-16:00; May Monday[-1] - September Monday[1] Monday-Sunday 9:00-17:00

Website: https://wisconsinmaritime.org

GPS coordinates: 44.09277,-87.65566

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:04