Sunken Secrets

Off the coast of Wisconsin lies an unusual underwater “museum.” Thirty-six shipwrecks sit at the bottom of a 962-square-mile area of Lake Michigan. And experts believe there are dozens more waiting to be discovered. 

Last June, the area was officially designated the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary. A marine sanctuary is an area of water officially protected by the U.S. government. Experts hope this will keep these pieces of the past safe for future generations.

“Marine sanctuaries are underwater parks that people can explore and learn from,” says Russ Green. He’s a scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “These historic shipwrecks tell America’s story.”

The ships in the sanctuary date as far back as the mid-1800s. At that time, people were moving westward across America in search of more land. The Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan, were a key shipping passageway. Many of the ships played an important role in developing and expanding the U.S. by helping to carry supplies across the country.   

The cold, fresh water of Lake Michigan has preserved many of the wrecks. Some look almost like they did when they sank! Green says that makes them unique time capsules with the power to connect people with the past. 

“Shipwrecks hold secrets,” he says. “Want to travel into the past? A shipwreck can help you do that.”