Maritime Heritage
Michigan's political boundaries
encompass an area
that is more than 40% underwater.
 Beneath the Inland Seas
Preserved by cold, fresh water, Great Lakes shipwrecks are dramatic maritime
time capsules. Left undisturbed, their timber and metal can last intact for
generations. Brought to the surface without conservation, the wood dries and
crumbles, the iron rusts-and a part of Michigan's past disappears.
 In 1980 recreational divers led the state of Michigan's effort to create an
underwater preserve system to protect shipwrecks found on its 38,504 square
miles of Great Lakes bottomlands. Nine preserves existed by 1994.
Sentinels of the Shore
 Lighthouses and life-saving stations came to symbolize isolation, danger,
heroism and devotion to duty. The uniqueness of their architecture illustrates
Michigan's maritime heritage and pays tribute to the vigilance of their keepers.
In 1982, the U.S. Coast Guard automated the last manned Michigan lighthouse at
Point Betsie in Frankfort. As automated systems eliminated the need for
lighthouse keepers, Michigan's. beacons suffered neglect and vandalism.
Individuals and groups joined to save and restore these unique structures,
striving to preserve Michigan's cultural landscape, just as others worked to
preserve its natural wonders.
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