National Museum of the Great Lakes Only Ohio Maritime Museum Nominated for USA Today 10Best
February 2, 2026 (Toledo, Ohio) – The National Museum of the Great Lakes has been nominated for Best Maritime Museum in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards—and is proud to be the only maritime museum in Ohio to receive this national recognition.
The nomination offers a powerful opportunity to spotlight the Great Lakes on a national stage. Museum leaders are encouraging the community to rally behind the region by voting daily through Monday, February 9.
“Being nominated alongside some of the best maritime museums in the country is truly an honor,” said Kate Fineske, executive director of the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “The Great Lakes shape our communities, our economy, and our shared history. We’re grateful for this recognition and hope supporters across Ohio and beyond will help us show the power of the Great Lakes.”
Located in Toledo, the National Museum of the Great Lakes invites visitors to uncover thousands of years of shoreline stories—tales of exploration, industry, innovation, and legendary shipwrecks. Guests explore nine exhibit galleries, including immersive spaces like the St. Marys Challenger pilothouse, alongside more than 50 interactive stations and hundreds of rare artifacts. Outdoors, visitors can walk the decks of two historic vessels: the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio. Founded in 1944, the museum also publishes Inland Seas®, leads maritime research, and serves as a gathering place for Great Lakes conversations.
Voting is open now, and supporters can cast a ballot every day through Monday, February 9. The museum is aiming for the top spot and encourages everyone to take part. Here’s the link to vote: https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/national-museum-of-great-lakes-toledo-ohio.
Help put the Great Lakes on top—vote daily and support Ohio’s only nominated maritime museum.
About the National Museum of the Great Lakes: The National Museum of the Great Lakes preserves, shares, and celebrates the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story. As an interactive, experiential museum, we offer visitors the chance to explore thousands of years of history and stories through nine dynamic exhibit galleries—including a rotating temporary exhibition space—and two historic museum vessels, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio, plus the pilothouse of the storied St. Marys Challenger.
Founded in 1944 as the Great Lakes Historical Society, we have a long-standing commitment to education, research, and storytelling. Our initiatives include the publication of Inland Seas®, a quarterly journal of Great Lakes history since 1945 and decades of maritime preservation and archaeological exploration. Today, we strive to be the gathering place for Great Lakes conversations—welcoming all to connect with the stories, people, and innovations that have shaped and continue to influence this vital region.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley Streichert Lovejoy, 419-460-8181
###