Shipwreck Alley: Exploring Thunder Bay's Maritime History
Alpena, Michigan sits on Thunder Bay in Lake Huron and is home to the National Marine Sanctuary and Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center . Because of the sporadic weather seen in this area, this area is infamous for its shipwrecks. Thunder Bay is nicknamed “Shipwreck Alley” due to its number of wrecks, many of which are in shallow waters and able to be seen from kayak or by snorkeling.
We spent a morning exploring the Heritage Center and learning about some of the most famous wrecks of the area, how technology helps identify and catalog shipwreck sites for preservation, and how the weather in the area has unforeseen impact on ships trying to navigate these waters. This museum is super well done and even has some great interactive portions for kids. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.
