The Great Lakes Hall of Fame is dedicated to the memory of those explorers, inventors, shipbuilders, sailors, and countless others who have made a contribution of exploration and development of the Great Lakes through the eras of sail, steam, and present.  Their bravery, their talents, and their ideas have powered the development of the Great Lakes transportation system, thus opening the heart of North America to settlement and commerce.  The skill and dedication of these people and thousands of others was needed to fulfill the tremendous potential of the Great Lakes.