For Immediate Release

Contact: Kara O’Keeffe
Kara.okeeffe@wisconsinhistory.org
608-261-9596

April 29, 2019

Underwater Shipwreck Photography Featured in New Exhibit at the Wisconsin Historical Museum

Madison, Wis. - A new exhibit, “Stories from the Wreckage,” featuring photographs of underwater shipwrecks, will be on display at the Wisconsin Historical Museum May 1 - November 16, 2019.

“The wrecks that are highlighted in this exhibit include the Atlanta, the Grace A. Channon, theHome, the Rouse Simmons, and the Silver Lake,” said Michael Hollander, director of the Wisconsin Historical Museum. “Most of the photos were taken by Tamara Thomsen, underwater archeologist for the Wisconsin Historical Society and her colleagues.”

Wisconsin is a maritime state, and over 700 hundred shipwrecks can be found at the bottom of Wisconsin lakes and rivers. For more than 30 years, the Wisconsin Historical Society’s underwater archaeology program has studied the vessels, cargoes, and related equipment that lie beneath state waters.

Through striking underwater photography, guests will get a glimpse into the time capsules of our maritime past and discover the hidden resources that shape our views of maritime history.

Also on display will be deep diving equipment on loan from Desco Corporation of Milwaukee. Accompanying the deep diving equipment is the story of the Lakeland and the investigation of theLakeland wreck by deep divers in 1925.

Kicking off the exhibit opening will be the book launch of “Stories from the Wreckage: A Great Lakes Maritime History Inspired by Shipwrecks” by author John Odin Jensen, professional historian and maritime archaeologist. The event will be held from 6:00-7:00 pm on May 1 at the Wisconsin Historical Museum. 

In the book, “Stories from the Wreckage,” Jensen examines a selection of Great Lakes shipwrecks of the wooden age for a deeper dive into this transformative chapter of maritime history. He mines the archaeological evidence and historic record to show how their tragic ends fit in with the larger narrative of Midwestern history.

The book also features the underwater photography of Tamara Thomsen. This vibrant volume is a must-have for shipping enthusiasts as well as anyone interested in the power of water to shape history. 

Jensen has participated in the investigations of more than fifty marine archaeological sites around Wisconsin and has written extensively on the Midwest's maritime history and archaeology.

The Wisconsin Historical Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. For more information visit wisconsinhistoricalmuseum.org.

About the Wisconsin Historical Museum

The Wisconsin Historical Museum, one of 12 Wisconsin Historical Society sites, is located at 30 N. Carroll St. on Madison’s Capitol Square.  The Museum features four floors of exhibition space and a unique museum store. The Wisconsin Historical Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-4pm.  All Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free admission. Admission is by suggested donation: Adults $5, Children $5 and children 4 and under are free.  Call 608-264-6555 for more information, or visit us online at WisconsinHistoricalMuseum.org.

About Wisconsin Historical Society

The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active, and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving, and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs, and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.

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