Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Breaks Ground on Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center

A Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary press release announces the ground breaking on a 20,000 square foot facility in Alpena.

When completed, the facility will feature a maritime heritage "discover center" featuring over 8,000 square-feet of exhibits on the Great Lakes, shipwrecks, archaeology, and maritime history. The center will also have an auditorium for showing films and live video feeds from Thunder Bay shipwrecks, an archaeological conservation laboratory, and an education resource room.

"The new center will be a national destination that will allow people of all ages to share in the discovery, exploration and preservation of the Great Lakes' historic shipwrecks and rich maritime past," said Sanctuary Manager Jefferson J. Gray. "In addition, the laboratories, archives, dockage for research vessels and a field station for visiting scientists will make the center a regional research facility, not just for historians and archaeologists, but for other scientists working to ensure the health of the Great Lakes."

Located in Lake Huron, the 448-square-mile Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve was established in 2000 to protect an estimated 200 historically significant shipwrecks ranging from nineteenth century wooden side-wheelers to twentieth century steel-hulled steamers. The Sanctuary brings to the American public the lore of Great Lakes maritime heritage through exploration, education and research.

Visit the web site located here: http://thunderbay.noaa.gov/