Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary encompasses 4,300 square miles of Lake Huron, protecting one of America's best-preserved and nationally-significant collections of shipwrecks. Lake Huron's unpredictable weather and rocky shoals helped Thunder Bay earn the unfortunate name of "Shipwreck Alley." During the Great Lakes' 200-year shipping history, scores of vessels ended their careers on the lake floor off Alpena, Michigan. Some of the wreck sites remain largely intact while other sites are only remnants. However, many wrecks remain undiscovered...These vessels, preserved in time within the fresh, cold waters of Lake Huron, still have stories to tell of Great Lakes maritime history and commerce, from the earliest explorations to westward expansion in the 1800s and modern day trade. Through exploration, education, and research, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve bring to the American public the lore of Great Lakes maritime heritage.