Researchers from NOAA, the state of Michigan, and Ocean Exploration Trust have discovered an intact shipwreck resting hundreds of feet below the surface of Lake Huron. Located within NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the shipwreck has been identified as the sailing ship Ironton. Magnificently preserved by the cold freshwater of the Great Lakes, the [...]
Beginning in spring of 2022, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) partnered with NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research and Laboratory (GLERL) to establish the basis of a long-term monitoring program to measure Lake Huron water chemistry related to freshwater acidification and climate change. A noteworthy element of this project is the engagement of students and [...]
Alpena, MI. Our community sadly lost an important member of the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary on July 25, 2022. With sadness, we announce the unexpected passing of Captain Spencer W. Cootware of Naples, Florida. Spencer was born February 13, 1961, in Tupper Lake, New York to the late Harold and Lillian Cootware. [...]
TALL SHIPS ARE COMING! And a REALLY BIG Rubber Duck Majestic Ships Set Sail for Alpena July 15-17, 2022 Tall Ships return to Alpena, July 15-17, 2022 for the Festival of Sail Alpena. Gates open each day from 10 AM to 6 PM. “We’re excited to bring this incredible festival, [...]
Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Offers Incentives to “Explore Your Sanctuary, Virtually!” Alpena, Mich. – The Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (FTBNMS) is in the giving spirit and offering a daily prize for those who participate in “Explore Your Sanctuary, Virtually!” an online treasure hunt to explore the sanctuary’s new website. [...]
ALPENA, MICH. – Each year NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) partners with the 14 sanctuaries across the country to recognize “extraordinary people who take time out of their lives for the betterment of America’s underwater parks.” Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) is delighted that Alpena community leader Al Moe is being honored [...]
ALPENA, Mich.-- The Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary extends gratitude to the Michigan Humanities Council, in affiliation with the National Endowment for the Humanities, for a CARES Act grant of $7,500 to support employee payroll during our summer season. This funding came at a very critical time for the Friends as many of [...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 23, 2020 Contact: Colby Chilcote, Marketing Director, Huron Pines, (989) 370-6857, colby@huronpines.org Lake Huron Forever Initiative Awards $50,000 to Support Great Lakes Health Partners in Michigan and Ontario Receive Funding to Enhance Lake Huron Water Quality The Lake Huron Forever initiative was developed in 2019 by shoreline community foundation and [...]
May 5, 2020 CONTACT: Katie Wolf T: 989-277-3543 E: kwolf@thunderbayfriends.org Thunder Bay Maritime Festival Events Cancelled for July 3rd and 4th Due to Community Health Concerns ALPENA, MICH. – After carefully assessing the Centers for Disease Control’s current projections for the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lingering health risks of hosting a large festival intended to [...]
by Great Lakes Now Visitors to the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center will be able to view new episodes of Great Lakes Now under a new partnership between the Detroit Public Television initiative and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Starting in February, the Sanctuary Visitor’s Center will begin free showings of each half-hour show. [...]
