Dossin Great Lakes Museum

The Dossin Great Lakes Museum occupies a 16,000-square-foot building on Belle Isle in Detroit, dedicated to more than 300 years of Great Lakes maritime history and Detroit's role in regional and national shipping. The museum opened on Belle Isle in July 1960, made possible by funding from the Dossin family, and underwent extensive renovations before reopening in 2013. Permanent exhibits include the restored pilot house of the S.S. William Clay Ford, where visitors can stand at the helm of a historic Great Lakes freighter; a restored smoking lounge from the S.S. City of Detroit III, now known as the Gothic Room; the bow anchor of the Edmund Fitzgerald; and the Miss Pepsi championship hydroplane from the 1950s. For private events, the museum offers several distinct spaces. DeRoy Hall is a waterfront room overlooking the Detroit River, used for lectures, exhibits, and weddings since its dedication in 1968. The Gothic Room provides an intimate historic setting, and outdoor options include the Grand Lawn and the Aaron and Helen L. DeRoy Patio, a waterfront addition completed in 2020.