Paradise Rec, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

Name

Paradise Rec, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

Legal name

Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society

Website

https://shipwreckmuseum.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paradise

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admissions: Ticket sales for museum access at Whitefish Point Light Station, with group rates available for 12 or more guests ($11 adults, $8.50 youth 6-17)
2. Museum Store: Retail merchandise including books, DVDs, maritime artwork, souvenirs, gift certificates, and Great Lakes themed products sold both on-site and online year-round
3. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible 501(c)(3) charitable contributions supporting general operations, annual appeals, underwater research, museum exhibits, documentary production, and capital projects
4. Membership Program: Annual membership offering free unlimited admission and discounts on museum store products
5. Group Tours: Specialized group tour services for motorcoach operators, schools, bicycle clubs, and other organizations with complimentary admissions for drivers and guides

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum operates a seasonal (May 1 - October 31) maritime heritage attraction at the Whitefish Point Light Station in Paradise, Michigan, offering self-guided tours of historic lighthouse buildings, shipwreck and Edmund Fitzgerald exhibits, and a year-round second location at the U.S. Weather Bureau Building in Sault Ste. Marie. It supports these operations with a museum store, annual membership, group tours, donations, and active underwater shipwreck research using ROV and side-scan sonar technology.

Product overview

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society operates as a dual-location maritime heritage organization offering cultural tourism experiences and charitable donation programs. The core product consists of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point, featuring self-guided tours of historic lighthouse structures, shipwreck exhibits, and the Edmund Fitzgerald memorial, complemented by the U.S. Weather Bureau Building location in Sault Ste. Marie. Supporting offerings include the Shipwreck Coast Museum Store (both physical and online), the Live Weather Cam digital service, and various donation-based support programs for underwater research, documentary production, and exhibit development. The museum serves approximately 100,000 visitors seasonally (May 1 – October 31) and welcomes over 250 group tours annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point Primary museum at the historic Whitefish Point Light Station featuring exhibits on maritime transport perils, shipwreck artifacts, the Edmund Fitzgerald memorial, and self-guided tours of the 1861 Light Tower, Lightkeeper's Quarters, 1923 Surfboat House, and Motor Lifeboat House. Open May 1 to October 31, 9 AM to 5 PM daily, with admission $11 adult and $8.50 youth (6-17).
• U.S. Weather Bureau Building (Soo Locks Park) Second museum location in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, housing the GLSHS Museum & Exhibits, with year-round operations and a branch museum store at 400 W. Portage Avenue.
• Shipwreck Coast Museum Store On-site and online retail store offering maritime-themed merchandise including books, DVDs, maritime artwork, souvenirs, gift certificates, and Shipwreck Society signature clothing, operating year-round online and seasonally at Whitefish Point and Sault Ste. Marie locations.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership program (Friend/Member of GLSHS) offering free unlimited museum admission and discounts on museum store products, with various membership tiers available.
• Group Tours and Visits Organized group tour program for motorcoach operators, schools, bicycle clubs, vintage auto rallies, and other organizations, with barrier-free accessibility, designated motorcoach parking, group rate pricing for 12 or more guests, and complimentary admissions for drivers and guides.
• Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Ceremonies Annual memorial events held on November 10 commemorating the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, including 50th anniversary commemorations and special programming tied to the museum's bell memorial and exhibits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100,000 visitors annually, making it one of Michigan's most popular cultural tourism destinations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marine Sonic TechnologycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2021Technology partner providing Marine Sonic Technology side-scan sonar systems used to map the lake bottom and identify submerged wrecks. Partnership enabled mapping of over 2,500 miles of Lake Superior in single seasons. Website: marinesonic.com
• E.J. Mertaugh Boat WorksminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHessel, MI boat restoration company that completed 6-year restoration of Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG 36381. Restoration work included bringing the boat back to its original appearance before placement in the 1923 Motor Lifeboat House at Whitefish Point.
• National GeographiccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia production company that sent a crew to spend two days on R/V David Boyd documenting the tragedy of ships C.F. Curtis, Selden E. Marvin, and Annie M. Peterson (sank November 18, 1914 with 28 souls lost). Featured GLSHS underwater research discoveries in television production.
• Passage Boat WorksminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBoat restoration company in Detour, MI that initially worked on the Motor Lifeboat CG 36381 restoration before the project shifted to E.J. Mertaugh Boat Works.
• Seney National Wildlife Refuge (Whitefish Point Unit)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service property adjacent to Whitefish Point. Co-managed with Michigan Audubon Society/Whitefish Point Observatory for the 2nd Assistant Keeper's Quarters reconstruction project intended to serve as visitor's center.
• Michigan Audubon Society / Whitefish Point Bird ObservatoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the 2nd Assistant Keeper's Quarters reconstruction project, collaborating on visitor center staffing alongside GLSHS and Seney National Wildlife Refuge.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GLShipwreckSociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/GLShipwreckMuseum
• Instagraminstagram.com/greatlakesshipwreck
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-lakes-shipwreck-museum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paradise Rec, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum