Dossin Great Lakes Museum

The basics

The Dossin Great Lakes Museum was established in the 1940s aboard an old wooden schooner that was the Great Lakes’ last commercial sailing ship. It’s now located in a building—the schooner didn’t withstand the rigors of time—but still showcases more than 300 years of the area’s maritime, social, and industrial history. It has several permanent and temporary exhibits, including a reconstructed “gentleman’s lounge” from a long-gone vessel, among others. Travelers typically visit independently.

Things to know before you go

• Entrance to the museum is ticketed, and admission is free for kids under 6.

• Adult wheelchairs can be borrowed. Most of the museum is wheelchair accessible, but one part (the William Clay Ford Pilot House) is not.

• Visitors with their own car will need a pass to drive onto Belle Isle. There are different fees for Michigan and out-of-state vehicles.

How to get there

The museum is located on Belle Isle, in the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. The island is connected to Detroit via the MacArthur Bridge. If you’re driving there, make sure to purchase a pass for Belle Isle. There’s also a public bus stop a short walk from the museum, on Loiter Way.

When to get there

The museum is open year-round. From Monday to Saturday it’s open from mid-morning to early evening. On Sundays it’s open only in the afternoon. Bell Isle is especially busy in summer and car access to the island may be restricted when the island is at capacity. Come earlier in the day to avoid being turned away, or walk, bike, or take the bus there.

Visit Belle Isle Park

When you’re visiting the museum, set aside plenty of time to see the surrounding island, especially if the weather’s nice. Most of Belle Isle is covered by the state park, and here you’ll find an aquarium, a conservatory, a fountain, a golf course, a swimming beach, cycle and walking trails, and other facilities and attractions.