The Shipwreck Exploits Of The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
One does not have to travel to the Atlantic or Pacific coast to find a treasure trove of maritime history.
The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the country’s only freshwater marine sanctuary and is located off the coasts of Alpena, Mich. on Lake Huron.
According to sanctuary staff, the region – for a variety of reasons – became known as “shipwreck alley” due to the more than 200 wrecks from a wide stretch of American Great Lakes shipping history that are preserved under the waves.
The coastal waters are protected, though the public is encouraged to explore the wrecks, which run the gamut of shipping history in the United States. Many of the wrecks are catalogued with buoys and snorkeling and diving on them for recreation is a widespread activity.
Sanctuary Superintendent Jeff Grey said it is the cold, fresh waters of Lake Huron that have led to the preservation of the wrecks contained in the sanctuary boundaries.
“I think what is unique about Thunder Bay is it is the only freshwater marine sanctuary, the shipwrecks are preserved by this fresh water, they are some of the best preserved in the world,” he said. “It’s a good way to experience the Great Lakes, and also explore and experience the history of our country. We were the last sanctuary to be dedicated and we’re the only one on the Great Lakes. It’s a really well preserved collection of ships and it is an important recreational area and opportunity for the public.”
But why exactly are there so many shipwrecks (as many as 200, and still many that are undocumented and catalogued) in one area of Lake Huron?
“There is one word to describe it: convergent,” said Grey “The great lakes, in the 19th Century, were one of the busiest water highways in the world.”
Whether it was lumbering supplies that were brought out on barges and ships from the northern Michigan forests to help rebuild cities and master the west, or the white alabaster rock culled from Michigan mines (used to make modern drywall) and used at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair for buildings, dubbing the area “The White City,” materials, people and other items were moving across the great lakes, Grey said.
Busy traffic, combined with a series of islands, underwater limestone reefs, and a unpredictable weather system over the bay, wrecks were bound to happen with antiquated maritime navigation methods and a relative lack of warning systems, said Grey.
“When a lot of traffic converges, there are bound to be wrecks,” he said.
Modern weather prediction, GPS navigation and a decline in Great Lakes shipping has made the area safer for maritime navigation.
The region is also unique for the maritime history and culture that remains on shore, despite the shipping past being under the water.
On shore there are still coastguard lifesaving stations, docks, working ports and shipping. According to staff, people have used the Thunder Bay River and the lake for thousands of years for navigation and shipping.
One of the main goals of the sanctuary, according to Grey, is to preserve that heritage. Along with the items off shore, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration houses artifacts and interpretive information at their free museum located along the river just outside of Downtown Alpena.
Along with this is a ship that is used to take public tours of the wrecks through Alpena Shipwreck Tours. The guided tours take visitors to wrecks, which can be viewed through the glass bottom of the vessel’s hull.
Grey said both sources are a way for the public to get up close and personal with maritime history.
People can try out the glass bottom boat, or they can try their hand at doing snorkeling,” he said. “Or they can rent a kayak, or even get certified to dive. It’s an exceptionally special place and we also have a world-class museum in our free visitor’s center.”
But Grey said the sanctuary is not only an important for recreational activities, it is also an important place to help preserve history.
Grey said the site is not only important for recreational opportunities. He said there is a team of underwater archeologists who help monitor the wrecks, interpret them and work to ensure that they will remain preserved and pass the test of time.
Jason Ogden
Stay At The Nearby:
Thunder RV Park & Campground, located only a few miles from the sanctuary, has 56 extra large pull-through sites with electric and water as well as a fish pond and pavilion. The park's seasonal dates are from April 1st to November 30th.