�Education and Stewardship of the Shipwrecks and Maritime Tales of the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail �
Joe Lucente
Associate Professor and CD Extension Specialist
Ohio Sea Grant College Program
Ohio State University Extension
Over 6000 shipwrecks are known to have occurred throughout the Great Lakes-----some have been salvaged, some located, and many yet to be located--------
These cultural resources are important to those interested in Great Lakes Maritime history and heritage, including scuba divers and snorkelers.���������Both groups spend a great deal of time, travel and money to learn more and experience shipwrecks firsthand
A 1999 New York Sea Grant survey showed divers living within the Great Lakes region spent $61 million a year on boat and auto fuel, lodging and food, etc. and $47 million on diving-related expenditures.
Scuba and Snorkeling Econ. Impact
(Source: Diving Equip. and Marketing Assoc 2021) www.dema.org
Recreational Scuba and Snorkeling
Many new shipwrecks have been located throughout the Great Lakes, and many more opportunities for divers and maritime history buffs have developed
Lake Erie:� Approximately 275 known, located shipwrecks, with over 1700 documented collisions and sinkings which have occurred�
Shipwreck protection, education and tourism related Programs existed in other Great Lakes states----and Ontario, Canada
A Previous effort to develop an underwater preserve in Ohio met with failure---basically due to rumors and the ever popular NIMBY--
One successful effort in Ohio has been work done by MAST----Maritime Archeological Survey Team, and the Peachman Lake Erie Shipwreck Research Center, Great Lakes Historical Society: Shipwreck archaeological documentation
Ohio Shipwreck Mooring Project 2005
Permitted, lighted moorings have been placed on 11 shipwrecks located in the Ohio waters of Lake Erie. Each represents a specific genre of shipping in Lake Erie’s rich maritime history.�
In 2006, The Ohio Sea Grant Program determined positive tourism impacts could be developed along Ohio’s coast through educational awareness of Lake Erie shipwrecks. This project would be accomplished in three phases:
THE LAKE ERIE UNDERWATER TRAILWAYS PROGRAM, NOW KNOWN AS �OHIO SHIPWRECKS.ORG WAS A COOPERATIVE, PARTNERING EFFORT
IN 2006, AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF SEASONED DIVERS AND MARITME EXPERTS WAS FORMED TO IDENTIFY KNOWN, POPULAR AND HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT SHIPWRECKS, INCLUDING THOSE ALREADY BUOYED BY MAST, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOUR OHIO LAKE ERIE SHIPWRECK AREAS
The extremely tedious effort then began to collect data, photos and video
Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve
(Huron Ohio)
Erie Shores and Islands Visitors Center (Port Clinton, OH)
Maumee Bay State Park
(Toledo, OH)
Lake Erie Nature and Science Center
(Cleveland, OH)
The website features the following information, and will remain dynamic: adding information as it becomes available:
Shipwreck ‘Trails’ Map with legend
Interactive Shipwreck Map which permits user to point/click on shipwrecks for information, view other non-featured shipwrecks
Since late 2019, the website has received:
We wish there was time to take you live to our website, and encourage you to visit us soon��WWW.OHIOSHIPWRECKS.ORG�
The connection between the shipwreck website, brochure and Lake Erie’s Coastal Ohio Trail serves to enhance visitation and recreational tourism impacts along Ohio’s Lake Erie coastline.
Joe Lucente, Associate Professor and CD Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant