Press Releases

July 23, 2010

New Great Lakes Exhibit Docks at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — JULY 23, 2010 — ANN ARBOR, MICH.

It’s “Shipwreck, Ahoy!” at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Its “Dive Into History” exhibit, on display through May 2011, is a collaborative effort with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Through a replica of the shipwreck Pewabic, the exhibit offers an up close look at maritime history and shipwrecks.

“The partnership with NOAA to display a replica Pewabic provides an exciting new exhibit for visitors to the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum,” said Mel Drumm, executive director, Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. “Learning not only about ships at the bottom of our Great Lakes, but also learning about the commerce, industry and lives of the crews, brings to life an important part of Michigan’s history.”

Visitors to the exhibit will walk through a mock Pewabic shipwreck, a ship that sunk off the coast of Alpena, Mich., in what is now the NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

“It is our hope that the Pewabic captures the imagination of museum visitors and stimulates conversation about our past,” said Ellen Brody, Great Lakes Regional Coordinator, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

Placards throughout the exhibit offer insight on life on Great Lakes ships and details on Michigan’s maritime history. The state’s prominence as a shipping route, its ability to connect raw materials with manufacturers and how shipping was a factor in the daily life of lakeshore Michigan residents is illuminated in the new exhibit.

“Dive Into History” will anchor the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum’s Great Lakes exhibit, scheduled for unveiling in October 2010.

“Dive Into History” is free with museum admission. For more information about the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, visit www.aahom.org or call 734.995.5439.

About the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum provides more than 250 interactive exhibits that spark the imagination. The Museum is a regional destination attracting over 200,000 visitors every year. The mission of the Museum is to inspire people to discover the wonder of science, math and technology. Visit www.aahom.org or call 734.995.5439 for more information.

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