From the iconic Civil War-era ironclad warship USS Monitor to the commercial vessels of the Great Lakes, your National Marine Sanctuary System works diligently to protect our nation’s maritime heritage. With a new national marine sanctuary protecting the Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay and expeditions to historic shipwrecks, we’re finding new ways to tell the stories of the people of our ocean, our Great Lakes, and Our Blue Heritage.

A kayaker paddles near a shipwreck

Protecting the Ghost Fleet
Green mountains lead right up to the ocean

An Ocean of Discovery
A yellow rov suspended over water by a crane

Searching for Shipwrecks and Sinkholes
The bow of a shipqreck covered in marine growth

Stellwagen Shipwreck Sleuths
Two divers shine lights on a shipwreck as they swim nearby

Proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary