Ghost Ships Festival 2026

Ghost Ships Festival is Wisconsin’s premier event for Great Lakes diving, maritime history and underwater archeology enthusiasts. This two-day public event occurs annually in Wisconsin, and promotes research, education, and public awareness of Great Lakes maritime history through the stories and underwater archeology of Great Lakes shipwrecks.

The occurs Friday and Saturday, March 6 – 7, at the Inn on Maritime Bay in Manitowoc, Wisconsin (101 Maritime Dr.) and features speakers and workshops devoted to: recent shipwreck discoveries, recent projects, techniques for documenting historic shipwreck sites, 3D Photogrammetry and remote sensing, diving, Great Lakes maritime history, and more!

Tickets are: $25 in advance, $30 at the door, and youth under 18 are FREE!

—–

Ghost Ships Festival is hosted by the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association, a 501c3 non-profit organization that trains interested members of the public to assist professional underwater archeologists in researching, surveying and documenting historic shipwreck sites. The event is co-sponsored by Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Maritime Archeology program and the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

Ghost Ships Festival brings together experts and the public from across the Great Lakes for two days of exciting presentations about shipwrecks, nautical archaeology and maritime history. Pre-registration is encouraged!

Get Your Tickets Here

Event Lineup

Friday, March 6th

4:00 – 6:00 pm Welcome Reception – Wisconsin Maritime Museum

6:30pm Brendon Baillod, Kevin Cullen – Welcome Remarks

7:00pm Tom Farnquest – “Edmund Fitzgerald Remembered”

8:00pm Flash Presentations – 15 Minute Moderated Presentations on Great Lakes Maritime History & Archeology

Saturday, March 7th

9:00am Katie Linder, Michelle Damian, Serena Stuettgen, Brendon Baillod – Great Lakes Shipwreck Artifacts Roundtable: Conservation, Interpretation, and Education

10:00am Tamara Thomsen – “2025: A Record Year for Wisconsin Shipwreck Discoveries”

11:00am Caitlin Zant – “A Year In Review at Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast NMS”

Noon Lunch Break – Food trucks and vendors available on site

1:30pm Mark Gammage – “The Propeller Comet: Lake Superior’s Treasure Ship”

2:30pm Carrie Sowden – “The wrecks of the Hamilton & Scourge: Treasures for the War of 1812″

3:30pm Brendon Baillod – “Door County’s Ghost Ship: F.J. King”

4:30pm Paul Ehorn – “Discovery of a Major New Lost Steamship”

5:30pm Richard J. Boyd Award – Award for Contributions in Great Lakes Maritime Archeology

6:00pm Lee Murdock – Music Event: “Lighthouse Legends and Great Lakes Lore”

7:00pm Social Gathering – Post Event Social