"Shipwrecks Alive!" at Great Lakes Aquarium

Great Lakes Aquarium’s new exhibit "Shipwrecks Alive!" will open to the public on Thursday, July 3. It explores the fascinating underwater world of sunken ships and the diverse ecosystems they create and sustain. The $450,000 project contrasts shipwreck habitats of the Great Lakes with those in the Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Ocean. A variety of sharks, stingrays and tropical fish will populate the new exhibit. Among its features is a 10-foot model stern of the S.S. America, a sunken vessel in Lake Superior’s Isle Royale National Park. An iron staircase salvaged from the wreck decades ago, along with other artifacts, are being donated to the exhibit by Cindy and Paul Hayden, owners of Lake Superior Magazine. The late Jim Marshall, former owner of the magazine, had salvage rights to the America. Another part of the exhibit is The Wreck of Antiquity, which showcases a Roman merchant vessel and representative wildlife, including stingrays, smooth-hound sharks and a 5-foot-long zebra shark in a giant 10,000 gallon aquarium. Another large tank will focus on the wreck of the San Francisco Maru, a Japanese World War II cargo ship in the Pacific Ocean’s Truk Lagoon, and feature hundreds of tropical fish in a colorful reef model display. This exhibit aims to provide visitors with the sensation of being under the water, exploring these interesting wreck sites. The aquarium hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.