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Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society is pleased to hear that the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary has moved closer to becoming a federally designated sanctuary by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This important designation will help preserve the maritime history of the state and the current thirty-six shipwrecks that are documented in the area. 

“This is an exciting day for the State of Wisconsin with the designation of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Michigan,” said Christian Overland, the Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society. “We appreciate Governor Evers, his administration, state and local stakeholders as well as community partners who helped make this federally designated marine sanctuary a reality.”

The marine sanctuary will be a 962-square mile area off of Lake Michigan, located roughly between the towns of Port Washington and Two Rivers. It will be managed by NOAA and the state of Wisconsin and it will share the maritime history of our state and coastal communities. In total, the sanctuary will also protect thirty-six shipwrecks, twenty-one of these shipwrecks are currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Two of these shipwrecks include Wisconsin’s oldest known shipwrecks, the Gallinipper and the Home.

The Wisconsin Historical Society’s underwater archeologists continue to research and document shipwrecks within the waters of Lake Michigan and this designation will help ensure they are preserved for future generations to explore.

“As the state agency that preserves and shares our state’s history, this sanctuary will be an important way to help teach visitors about the maritime history of our state including the shipwrecks off of the coast,” continued Overland. “With only fourteen current national marine sanctuaries this designation will help build on the importance of preserving Wisconsin’s maritime legacy.”

The area was nominated for national marine sanctuary consideration by a diverse coalition of organizations and individuals at local, state, regional and national levels. The sanctuary designation will take effect following a 45-day review by Congress and the Wisconsin Governor.  For more information visit www.noaa.gov.

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 www.wisconsinhistory.org.

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