MacDonald would live long enough to see the $344,276 project targeted with allegations of political patronage after the March 5, 1891 Canadian election.

As he suffered a series of strokes in 1891, one of which proved fatal on June 6 of that year,[5] he would never have the opportunity to see the facility open and in operation.

During the Second World War naval vessels, notably corvettes, were built in this dry dock.

The shipyard's distinctive square stone chimney stands 90 feet above the downtown city waterfront.

The Shipwreck Gallery leads from the early days of wooden ship building through to the construction of modern "Lakers".

[7] Displays cover Great Lakes shipping since 1678;[8] artifacts and exhibits include ship's models and engines,[9] relics and instruments of lake vessels under both sail and steam,[10] the drydock pumps and engine room of the original factory, glass and china salvaged from Great Lakes shipwrecks, ship's bells, anchors, binnacles, navigational instruments and equipment,[1] a gallery of artistic paintings about the sea and the history of the Calvin and Son shipyard which once employed 700 workers[11] on Garden Island.

[12] The museum has photographed historic shipwrecks at risk of being hidden by encrustations of zebra mussels which infested the Great Lakes in the 1990s.

In 2019 the museum received a donation from an unknown source, and repurchased the property after the re-developer could not come to agreement with the city on a residential high-rise.