Guided tours of the Museum and the CCG Alexander Henry are available!

The Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston and the Museum Ship Alexander Henry* offers teachers, parents and volunteers in the Kingston area a wide range of learning opportunities. Take the classroom curriculum out on the water, and show your students real world applications!  School and community groups are welcome to take advantage of special pre-booked tour packages which may include tours of both the Museum and the Ship (seasonal), and/or optional programming activities.  Please call 613-542-2261/email for more information, or to book your tour today.

*PLEASE NOTE:  The Museum Ship Alexander Henry will open for deck tours only in 2010. 

An Overview of the Site and its History

The Marine Museum was founded in 1975. Located on 55 Ontario St. at the only federally built dry dock on the Great Lakes, the Marine Museum houses the original pumping station and steam engines built in 1891.  We also have on display a wide ranging collection of marine artefacts, exhibits and archives and are home to the Gordon C. Shaw Study Centre.  Current exhibits highlight the growth of ship building and shipping technologies, the history of boat building, the life of the sailor, the Great Lakes in art, and a large section focused on local and regional history and our place on the Great Lakes.  We also have a children's activity room that highlights some of the curriculum strands.

The Museum Ship Alexander Henry was built in 1959. A Buoy Tender/Icebreaker, Alexander Henry is a fine example of shipbuilding from the last century. With its twenty ton crane, block and tackle, hydraulic ram and other functional machinery, students have a perfect opportunity to experience science in a real world setting.  Please note that the ship is only available for deck tours from May - October, weather permitting.

Guided Tours: What to Expect

Upon arrival at the Museum your group will be divided into smaller groups depending on your class size.  One group will start in the Museum while the other starts on the Ship (seasonal).  Touring each site will take between 30 and 45 minutes, and can be adjusted for your time requirements.  Please be aware that the Ship has very steep ladders, and that it is very difficult to move a tour through either site in less than thirty minutes.  Your guide will provide an overview of the site and its history, as well as outline the role of the Great Lakes in Canadian History. 

The tour of the ship highlights life on a Coast Guard Vessel and its function during its career on the Great Lakes.  An enjoyable and unique experience for you and your students!