Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

There are a great many wrecks in the sanctuary, and their preservation and protection is a concern for United States Government policymakers.

Original boundaries followed that of Alpena County to 83 degrees west longitude totaling 448 square miles (338 sq nmi; 1,160 km2).

The museum, located in Alpena on the Thunder Bay River, features exhibits about local shipwrecks and the Great Lakes, an auditorium, an archaeological conservation laboratory, and education areas.

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors.

Several charter services provide guided dives to the sanctuary's shipwrecks, ensuring safe and educational experiences.

Map of Thunder Bay sanctuary showing original boundaries
Resource Protection Specialist Cassandra Sadler prepares to deploy a lift bag to take the midwater buoy line to the surface during buoy operations in the sanctuary.
A diver over the wreck of SS New Orleans .