Florida Department of State
Kurt S. Browning
Secretary of State
For Immediate Release
April 15, 2009
Contact:
Roger Smith
245.6334
rsmith@dos.state.fl.us
"Museums in the Sea" Provides Virtual Dive Into Florida's Underwater Archaeological Preserves
Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning today announced the completion of the “Museums in the Sea” project, presenting extensive online resources and information about Florida’s 11 Underwater Archaeological Preserves. Visitors to the online site at www.museumsinthesea.com can choose a shipwreck, take a guided underwater tour of the site, watch a narrated history of the vessel, and observe the marine life that lives in the wreckage.
“Museums in the Sea” provides detailed Web tours of Florida’s 11 Underwater Archaeological Preserves,” said Secretary Browning. “This is another way in which we can share Florida’s unique maritime heritage with the world. Now everyone who has access to the Internet can virtually visit Florida’s living museums in the sea.”
Florida’s Underwater Archaeological Preserves combine heritage, ecological and recreational tourism opportunities at 11 shipwreck locations around the state. The program began in 1987 in response to sites that were nominated by local waterfront communities. Since then, the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research has established the 11 shipwreck parks throughout the state that have become popular attractions for snorkelers and divers.
Each section of the “Museums in the Sea” Web site has photographs and text to accompany the videos, and visitors may download and print the Underwater Preserve brochures and underwater guides. “Museums in the Sea” provides educators with new research material for students, who can use their computers to learn about Florida’s maritime history and marine biology, and see environmental changes that can occur to shipwrecks over time.
The interactive Web site was created by the Bureau of Archaeological Research Underwater Archaeology Team and the Florida Center for Interactive Media, with funding assistance from the Department of Environmental Protection, Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Visit "Museums in the Sea" www.museumsinthesea.com
Florida Department of State
Kurt S. Browning
Secretary of State
For Immediate Release
May 13, 2008
Contact:
Roger Smith
245.6334
rsmith@dos.state.fl.us
State Archaeology Web Site Allows Visitors To Dive into Florida’s Shipwreck Parks Without Getting Wet
Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning today announced the launch of the Department of State’s newest Internet feature, “Museums in the Sea.”
“The “Museums in the Sea” Web site provides a virtual Web tour of Florida’s Underwater Archaeological Preserves,” said Secretary Browning. “This is another way in which we can share Florida’s unique maritime heritage with the world. Now everyone who has access to the Internet can virtually visit Florida’s living museums in the sea.”
Florida’s Underwater Archaeological Preserves combine heritage, ecological and recreational tourism opportunities at 11 shipwreck locations around the state. The program began in 1987 in response to sites that were nominated by local waterfront communities. Since then, the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research has established the eleven shipwreck parks throughout the state that have become popular attractions for snorkelers and divers.
To “dive” into Florida’s “Museums in the Sea” visit www.museumsinthesea.com. Visitors can choose a shipwreck, take a guided underwater tour of the site, watch a narrated history of the vessel, and observe the marine life that lives in the wreckage. Each section of the site has photographs and text to accompany the videos. Visitors also have the opportunity to download and print the Underwater Preserve brochures and underwater guides.
The five Florida Shipwreck Preserves currently posted on the new Web site include: Lofthus, an iron barque wrecked off Boynton Beach; USS Massachusetts, the oldest existing American battleship sunk off Pensacola; Half Moon, a German racing yacht off Miami, City of Hawkinsville, the largest and last Suwannee River steamboat, and SS Copenhagen, a steel cargo vessel that wrecked off Pompano Beach. Videos and information on the remaining six preserves will be added to the Web site in the near future.
The Web site also provides educators with new research material for students, who can use their computers to learn about Florida’s maritime history and marine biology, and see environmental changes that can occur to shipwrecks over time.
The “Museums in the Sea” interactive Web site was created by the Bureau’s Underwater Archaeology Team and the Florida Center for Interactive Media, with funding assistance from the Department of Environmental Protection, Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
