Life rafts from Edmund Fitzgerald

Steam Back into History

Closed for the season.  2008 will open Mid-May.

Built in 1917 and retired in 1966, the SS Valley Camp is 550 feet in length and now features a variety of displays that will educate and entertain the entire family.
     More than 100 exhibits populate the ship’s cargo hold. What once held coal, iron ore, and limestone is now home to displays showcasing maritime memories, shipwrecks, lighthouses, and local history. Stroll at your own pace and soak up the romance and peril of life on the inland lakes.
     Life aboard a freighter remains a mystery to many, but step aboard the Valley Camp and be transported to a different era. Explore crew sleeping quarters, dining areas and the places that sailors called home for nearly 50 years. When you’re finished, take a stroll on the topside and trace the steps worn by sailors for decades while you enjoy breathtaking river views.
     Visitors are fascinated by the exhibit featuring the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald. The unexplained sinking strikes a chord still today. Museum visitors flock to see the largest recovered pieces of wreckage – 2 lifeboats. The exhibit includes a film recap of the tragedy that claimed the lives of 29 sailors in 1975.
     The SS Valley Camp is open to visitors from Mid-May through Mid-October.
For more details about the history of the SS Valley Camp  or call Toll Free: (888) 744-7867.