The museum is currently closed. Our hours are Wed - Sat, 10AM - 4PM. General Admission - Only $14!

Deck 2a

Nautical Knots

Visitors will try their hand at tying a variety of knots including a “figure-eight”, a “clove hitch”, and a “bowline” to see if they can “learn the ropes” like a seasoned mariner.

Beneath the Bay

Visitors will view over 100 shipwrecks located in Mobile Bay, originating from every period of North American history, from Spanish colonization to modern times. Visitors will explore the locations of the more storied shipwrecks from the area’s maritime history.

Cargo Conductor

How are goods and materials loaded and unloaded from vessels? Visitors will assume the role of “cargo conductors” to see how massive quantities of goods are moved efficiently through a maritime port via huge cranes, forklifts, conveyors and other means.

Hidden Highways

See how you can ship goods on the nation’s river system, from a variety of Gulf ports to destinations far north. Watch the route your goods would take on the inland waterways as well as the number of miles traveled and the change in elevation as you go.

What's Inside?

In every port, goods headed to market are shipped inside huge stacks of containers. Visitors will explore an interactive, multi-media environment that demonstrates how containers are used to transport products worldwide.

Cargo Handler

Visitors will use block and tackle like stevedores to hoist heavy goods (36 pounds of weight). See how the right combination of pulleys can make the job easier.

Comings and Goings

This two-story, interactive world map allows visitors to explore historic and current waterborne commerce to and from the Gulf, from the routes of early Spanish, French and British explorers, to modern trade that links Mobile and the Gulf to the world.

"Ocean Planet" Theater

A six-foot diameter planet Earth is suspended, rotating on its axis. With stunning visualizations of our amazing “ocean planet”, visitors will engage in theater programs on the Gulf of Mexico that utilize real satellite data and other images.

Ships Ahoy!: Visitors can pilot boats and engage in two activities: (a.) two “boat captains” will pilot towboats (Red and Yellow) and work together to guide the large railroad ferry into the dock with the railroad tracks; or (b.) two “boat captains” will pilot push boats (Blue and Green) independent of one another to guide their barge into the appropriate dock for unloading.

Signal Flags

Visitors will compose their own signal flag messages that they can then e-mail from the museum to any e-mail address. The e-mailed message includes a “key” on the back for the recipient to decipher the meaning of the signal flags.