Located in northwestern Lake Huron, Thunder Bay is adjacent to one of the most treacherous stretches of water in the Great Lakes. Unpredictable weather, murky fog banks, sudden gales, and rocky shoals earned the area the name “Shipwreck Alley.” From the early 1800s through the middle of the twentieth century, nearly 200 pioneer steamboats, majestic schooners and huge steel freighters wrecked in the Thunder Bay region. Today, the 448-square-mile Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary protects one of America’s best-preserved and nationally significant collections of shipwrecks. The area is a haven for recreational divers, snorkelers, and kayakers.

To provide better access to Thunder Bay’s historic shipwrecks, the sanctuary maintains seasonal moorings at many popular shipwreck sites. The moorings make the sites easier to locate and provide a safe means of ascent and descent for divers. The moorings also eliminate anchor damage to these unique and irreplaceable historic sites.

Approved by the U. S. Coast Guard, the mooring buoys are white with a horizontal blue stripe and many are lighted to increase visibility at night. The buoys are installed and removed seasonally (May 1 to September 30), so be sure to check with the sanctuary before planning your trip.

Vessel Latitude Longitude DepthAlbany (1846-1853) N45°19.396’ W83°27.508’ 5

Light Guard (stern) (1866-1903) N45°03.657' W83°22.111' 6

Portland (1863-1877) N45°14.929’ W83°24.450’ 7

John Warner (1855-1890) N45°03.043' W83°26.113' 9

American Union (1862-1894) N45°21.411’ W83°35.368’ 10

Shamrock (1875-1905) N45°03.077' W83°26.052' 11

Haltiner's Barge (crane) (? - 1927) N45°02.147' W83°19.631' 13

New Orleans (1838-1849) N45°02.589’ W83°14.414’ 13

North Bay Wreck N45°20.784’ W83°29.613’ 14

Bay City (1857-1902) N45°03.287’ W83°25.603’ 14

W.P. Rend (1888 - 1917) N45°03.742’ W83°23.555’ 15

Harvey Bissell (1866-1905) N45°03.371’ W83°25.606’ 15

Haltiner Barge (boom) (? - 1927) N45°02.146’ W83°19.631’ 15

Haltiner Barge (bilge) (? - 1927) N45°02.091’ W83°19.595’ 17

Heart Failure (Ca. 1910) N45°03.701’ W83°22.724’ 17

W.P. Rend (1888-1917) N45°03.742' W83°23.555' 17

Monohansett (1872-1907) N45°01.996' W83°11.988' 18

Ogarita (1864-1905) N45°06.326' W83°13.109' 30

Oscar T. Flint (1889-1909) N45°01.535’ W83°20.839’ 32

Nordmeer (bow) (1954-1966) N45°08.184’ W83°09.583’ 35

James Davidson (1874-1883) N45°01.877' W83°11.764' 35

Barge No. 1 (1895-1918) N45°00.974' W83°18.252' 42

Van Valkenburg (1862-1887) N45°03.390’ W83°10.210’ 60

Montana (bow) (1872-1914) N44°59.025’ W83°16.013’ 63

Montana (stern) (1872-1914) N44°59.046’ W83°16.038’ 66

Middle Island Sinkhole N45°11.898’ W83°19.665’ 72

W.P. Thew (1884-1909) N45°02.712’ W83°09.210’ 82

Grecian (bow) (1891-1906) N44°58.117’ W83°12.068’ 98

Grecian (stern) (1891-1906) N44°58.099' W83°11.991' 100

E.B. Allen (1864-1871) N45°00.968’ W83°09.902’ 100

National Marine Sanctuaries National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Shipwreck Mooring Program

thunderbay.noaa.gov

Steamer GrecianFreighter NordmeerSchooner E.B. Allen

RED = Current Moorings

Haltinerʼs Barge

Loretta

Ishpeming

North Point

Heart Failure

Enjoy diving the shipwrecks of Thunder Bay, but always respect the past. Removing artifacts or altering shipwrecks sites is illegal. The next generation of recreational divers, explorers, and archaeologists are depending on us to leave historic shipwrecks intact. Learn more about protecting our past at: http://thunderbay.noaa.gov

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary500 West Fletcher Street Alpena, Michigan 49707 989.356.8805 www.thunderbay.noaa.gov

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C A N A DATHUNDER BAYNATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

THUNDER BAYNATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

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Contours in meters

220 1800

Topography & Bathymetry

Map KeyNational MarineSanctuary

Other Park

Marine SanctuaryOffice

Other Park

Steam Powered Shipwreck

Sail Powered Shipwreck

Historic Lighthouse

LocationNorthwest Lake Huron, off the northeast coast of Michigan's lower peninsula

Protected Area448-square miles

DesignationOctober 2000

Contact InformationGreat Lakes MaritimeHeritage Center500 West Fletcher StreetAlpena, MI 49707(989) 356-8805www.thunderbay.noaa.gov

•Lumber products•Coal•Grain•Iron ore

•Stone•Package freight•Salt•Fish

•Steel•Passengers•Copper ore

Cargoes Lost at Thunder Bay(by quantity of loss for all wrecks)•Sail Powered

•Schooners•Ships, Brigs,

Barks•Scows

•Steam Powered•Propellers•Sidewheelers

•Other•Combustion

Motor Powered•Unpowered

Types of Vessels Lost at Thunder Bay

facebook.com/thunderbayshipwrecks

Shipwreck Mooring Program (continued)

JANUARY 2011 / 1000