It preserves and teaches about the maritime history of the Great Lakes and Wisconsin.

[1] The museum was founded in 1969 as the Manitowoc Submarine Memorial Association.

[1] The USS Cobia arrived in Manitowoc and was initially restored in 1970,[2][3] and in 1986 became part of the museum as well as becoming a National Historic Landmark and joining the National Register of Historic Places.

[4] The submarine has been restored and has one of the oldest operational radar systems in the world.

[3][4] The museum offers guided tours of the Cobia as well as overnight stays on the submarine.