Sept. 22, 2005

Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL) Director Dr. William Anderson today announced the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve in Alpena will become a permanent establishment. 

The Thunder Bay sanctuary was provisionally designated in October 2000 under a five-year agreement and has since been co-managed by the state of Michigan and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

"Thanks to the hard work of the staff and supporters of Thunder Bay and the NOAA, this sanctuary has become an important economic foothold in Alpena and Michigan," Granholm said.  "Thunder Bay has thrived in the last five years, and now this partnership can continue to educate and entertain our citizens and visitors for years to come."

"I heartily applaud the governor's decision to embrace Thunder Bay as a permanent sanctuary," said HAL's Dr. Anderson.  "What started as an effort to protect and preserve a critical chapter in Great Lakes shipping history has turned into a tidal wave of incredible economic, educational and partnership opportunities.  The growing support of this region's residents and business leaders demonstrates just how powerfully a cultural institution can impact the community it serves."

Governor Granholm's announcement came on the heels of this past weekend's grand opening of the sanctuary's Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, the latest step in the sanctuary's plan to maximize service to a variety of audiences.  The new visitor and research facility at Thunder Bay is housed in the 20,000-square-foot former Fletcher Paper Company coating plant, part of a $30 million project to adaptively reuse the Fletcher site and buildings as a hotel, conference center, brewpub and shops. 

The center has an auditorium for showing films, an archaeological conservation laboratory and an education resource room.  It will eventually feature more than 8,000 square feet of exhibits on the Great Lakes, shipwrecks, archaeology and maritime history, as well as live video feed from the bottom of the bay, making it possible for visitors to be virtual "divers for a day" - to see Michigan maritime history with their own eyes. 

"This is an incredibly exciting time for the sanctuary and the state of Michigan," said Jeff Gray, manager of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.  "The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center will offer resources to maritime historians and researchers that are unparalleled in this region, not to mention the exciting new educational opportunities through real-time video links to shipwrecks."

During Saturday's (Sept. 17) grand-opening festivities of the sanctuary's Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, Rep. Matthew Gillard read from the governor's official tribute, which says, in part:  "… the sanctuary has demonstrated its value to Michigan in economic growth, including tourists and jobs, and in education, exploring and preserving our history, and building community pride. …We congratulate the city of Alpena and all involved in making this opening a great success and a major step in the continued growth of the economic, education and community value of the sanctuary."

Thunder Bay is the 13th national marine sanctuary and only the second sanctuary to focus solely on the protection of historic shipwrecks.  Based on historical records, the sanctuary estimates that there are over 200 shipwrecks in and around the sanctuary.  For more information about the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, visit http://thunderbay.noaa.gov/.  

The National Marine Sanctuary Program seeks to increase the public awareness of America's maritime heritage by conducting scientific research, monitoring, exploration and educational programs. Today, 13 national marine sanctuaries encompass more than 18,000 square miles of America's ocean and Great Lakes natural and cultural resources. In addition, the National Marine Sanctuary Program is in the process of designating the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve as a sanctuary. 

The Michigan Historical Center, part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries, is the lead state agency working with Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.  HAL, which seeks to strengthen the economy and enrich residents' quality of life by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Film Office.  For more information about HAL, please visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.