Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve
Map showing the location of Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve
Map showing the location of Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve
Location within the state of Michigan
LocationLake Huron, Sanilac County, Michigan USA
Nearest cityPort Sanilac, Michigan
Coordinates43°25′55″N 82°24′43″W / 43.432°N 82.412°W / 43.432; -82.412
Area163 square miles (420 km2)
Governing bodyMichigan Department of Natural Resources

The Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve was established to promote conservation of the submerged historical resources in Lake Huron near Port Sanilac, Michigan. The Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve spans a total of 163 square miles (420 km2) of Lake Huron. The Michigan Underwater Preserve Council oversees activities relating to all of Michigan's Underwater Preserves.[1]

The preserve is open to scuba divers.

History

Port Sanilac was originally a lumberjack settlement on the shore of Lake Huron named "Bark Shanty Point." In 1857 the village was renamed to Port Sanilac, as it is in Sanilac County and Sanilac Township, Michigan. Local legend attributes the name to a Wyandotte Indian Chief named Sanilac. Local landmarks include the Port Sanilac lighthouse (burning kerosene from its opening in 1886 until its electrification in 1924) and a twenty-room Victorian mansion (now a museum) built in 1850 by a horse-and-buggy doctor, Dr. Joseph Loop. There are numerous shipwrecks located near Port Sanilac.

Sanilac Shores Unit Sites
Site name Type Sank Depth Coordinates
Charles A. Street Wooden Steamer July 20, 1908 10' 43°35.50′N 82°27.50′W / 43.59167°N 82.45833°W / 43.59167; -82.45833 (Charles A. Street)
Charles S. Price Steel Freighter November 9, 1913 75' 43°09.174′N 82°21.174′W / 43.152900°N 82.352900°W / 43.152900; -82.352900 (Charles S. Price)
Checotah Wooden Schooner October 30, 1906 117' 43°36.107′N 82°28.170′W / 43.601783°N 82.469500°W / 43.601783; -82.469500 (Checotah)
City of Genoa Wooden Steamer August 26, 1911 64' 43°08.78′N 82°22.31′W / 43.14633°N 82.37183°W / 43.14633; -82.37183 (City of Genoa)
Colonel A. B. Williams Wooden Schooner 1864 80' 43°36.235′N 82°30.805′W / 43.603917°N 82.513417°W / 43.603917; -82.513417 (Colonel A.B. Williams)
Eliza H. Strong Wooden Steamer October 26, 1904 22' 43°15.709′N 82°30.581′W / 43.261817°N 82.509683°W / 43.261817; -82.509683 (Eliza H. Strong)
F.B. Gardner Wooden Steamer September 15, 1904 55' 43°31.63′N 82°31.77′W / 43.52717°N 82.52950°W / 43.52717; -82.52950 (F.B. Gardner)
John Breeden Wooden Schooner July 21, 1899 55' 43°12.640′N 82°26.240′W / 43.210667°N 82.437333°W / 43.210667; -82.437333 (John Breeden)
City of Milwaukee Wooden Schooner November 5. 1875 165' Un­known
Mary Alice B. Steel Tugboat September 5, 1975 92' 43°22.309′N 82°26.301′W / 43.371817°N 82.438350°W / 43.371817; -82.438350 (Canisteo)
Canisteo Wooden Steamer October 25, 1920 98' 43°14.142′N 82°18.292′W / 43.235700°N 82.304867°W / 43.235700; -82.304867 (Canisteo)
New York Wooden Steamer September 1856 117' 43°36.23′N 82°28.272′W / 43.60383°N 82.471200°W / 43.60383; -82.471200 (New York)
North Star Steel Freighter November 25, 1908 96' 43°23.954′N 82°26.524′W / 43.399233°N 82.442067°W / 43.399233; -82.442067 (North Star)
Queen City Steel Steamer August 18, 1863 45' 43°09.124′N 82°25.711′W / 43.152067°N 82.428517°W / 43.152067; -82.428517 (Queen City)
Regina Steel Canaler November 9, 1913 77' 43°20.434′N 82°26.787′W / 43.340567°N 82.446450°W / 43.340567; -82.446450 (Regina)
Sport Steel Hulled Tug December 13, 1920 45' 43°16.003′N 82°27.892′W / 43.266717°N 82.464867°W / 43.266717; -82.464867 (Sport)

See also

References

  1. ^ Sanilac Shores Underwater Preserve Michigan Underwater Preserve Council

External links


Protected areas of Michigan
Categories