About the Exhibit

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Wisconsin's Underwater Treasures

This exhibit highlights shipwrecks of the mid Lake Michigan region.

Society maritime archaeologists Tami Thomsen and Caitlin Zant spent the last several months providing text, images, and video to the staff at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum as they developed “Wisconsin’s Underwater Treasures.” This exhibit highlights shipwrecks of the mid Lake Michigan region and the communities of Port Washington, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Two Rivers. You can view dramatic underwater footage, see photo mosaics of entire shipwrecks, and learn about the tragedy and challenges of making a living on the Great Lakes. The exhibit also features life sized cardboard cuts of Tami and Caitlin that are part of a program on women in science.

This exhibit is a companion piece to the “Treasures of NOAA’s Ark” an exhibit that tells the story of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its 200 year history of enhancing navigation, charting the Nation’s weather, supporting our fisheries, and protecting our underwater heritage.

As many of you may know, the Society has had an partnership with the Wisconsin Maritime Museum for the last 27 years to curate maritime related artifacts and to present programs on the Society’s role in the preservation of the shipwrecks that tell the story of the expansion of the United States and the development of the agricultural and industrial heartland that became the Midwest. They currently serve as the hub for the Maritime History Geo-caches that dot the Manitowoc area.

This exhibit represents the beginning of a partnership between the Society, NOAA, and the local communities to develop a National Marine Sanctuary along this section of Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan coast. The State’s application was added to the inventory of potential sanctuary locations in December 2014. We hope the designation process can begin later this year.
Coverage of inventory listing can be found at:

Channel 58
http://www.cbs58.com/story/28255802/underwater-video-from-sheboygan-man-shows-century-old-shipwreck-in-lake-michigan

Milwaukee Business Journal
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/morning_roundup/2014/09/lakeshore-area-could-have-national-marine.html

Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-bc-wi--wisconsin-shipwrecks-20150218-story.html

Thank you.

John H. Broihahn
State Archaeologist

State Archaeology and Maritime Preservation
Historic Preservation-Public History Division
Wisconsin Historical Society
816 State Street
Madison WI 53706

608-264-6496
608-219-6240 (cell)
608-264-6504 (fax)
John.broihahn@wisconsinhistory.org
www.wisconsinhistory.org

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