Join us on Saturday, June 28, 2025, for the public grand opening of the Second Wave expansion at the National Museum of the Great Lakes! Be among the first to experience our new Larry & Karen Bettcher Wing, featuring the Great Lakes Community Education Center and the Alex & Marilyn Cook Leadership Center.

Explore the World Group Foundation Gallery, showcasing our brand new permanent exhibit, Every Boat Tells Our Story, which features the Bob Sellers Model Collection, celebrating the craftsmanship and legacy of Great Lakes vessels. Plus, explore the St. Marys Challenger pilothouse experience, made possible by the Schoonmaker Foundation. This accessible maritime vessel feature explores the story of the oldest active freighter on the Great Lakes and provides amazing views of the Maumee River and the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway bridge.

Also, experience our first ever temporary exhibit Dark Waters: True Crime and Mystery on the Great Lakes Exhibit. Dive into the murky depths of Great Lakes history with this captivating exhibit that unearths the region’s most notorious and puzzling tales, from unsolved shipwrecks to infamous maritime crimes.

This is a momentous occasion as we unveil a space dedicated to celebrating Great Lakes history and community engagement. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the future of our museum firsthand!

Admission is included with regular museum entry. Stay tuned for more details on special programming and activities throughout the day.