History

Pictured Rocks Cruises has provided tens of thousands of guests a truly spectacular, closeup view of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for over 50 years.

1920s

Formal Tours to Pictured Rocks began being offered by Cleveland Cliff Iron Company on Sunday afternoons. The “Ottawa” would leave port on Grand Island and take visitors along the shoreline.

1940s

Captain Everett Morrison began running cruises right after World War II on the “Sea Queen” and later expanded the business when he purchased “Miss Palm Beach” and “Pictured Rocks I.”

1966

Pictured Rocks became the first National Lakeshore in the United States.

1967

Captain Morrison continues to improve and advance the fleet of vessels by having “Tiger Lady” and “Miss Munising” built. The 61 foot “Miss Munising” was capable of carrying 102 passengers.

1974

The 68-foot tour-boat “Miners Castle” was purchased, and the new Pictured Rocks Cruises partnership was established.

1983

The fleet increased again with the building of the “Miss Superior”, a 68-foot tour-boat, very similar to the "Miner's Castle."

1987

The “Grand Island,” another 68-foot monohull tour-boat was purpose-built by Schwartz Marine and began operating tours.

2004

“Grand Portal”, the newest vessel used by Pictured Rocks Cruises, was built in Gulfport, Mississippi. Long-time captain, Chuck Cook navigated the new vessel all the way from Gulfport to Munising!

2009

Pictured Rocks Cruises, LLC became an authorized concesionaire of the National Park Service to provide interpretive programming on cruises.

2016

The high-speed catamaran "Pictured Rocks Express" was purchased from a Mackinaw area ferry company, fully renovated, and added to the fleet. A new piece of the Munising City Dock had to be built to accommodate the new boat.

2017

Pictured Rocks Cruises opened the Pictured Rocks Interpretive Center, a museum honoring the history of the Munising area and highlighting the wonders of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It is located one block away from the Munising City Dock.