IN THIS EPISODE:
On this episode of Great Lakes Now, join Ian Solomon on a shipwreck adventure in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and find out how researchers at Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary are bringing shipwrecks to your living room. Plus, discover the story of a Canadian forest that built a Chicago media empire.
When to Watch?
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Diving into Thunder Bay’s underwater museum
SEGMENT 1 | ALPENA, MI
Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is home to hundreds of shipwrecks, each with its own story to tell about the region’s maritime heritage.
Great Lakes Now contributor Ian Solomon set out to experience this history firsthand. His journey began at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena, Michigan, where interactive exhibits bring the history of Great Lakes shipping to life. There, visitors can step aboard replicas, examine artifacts, and get a sense of what it was like to work aboard these massive vessels.
From the museum, Ian headed out onto the water. A glass-bottom boat tour offered a one-of-a-kind view of several wrecks resting on the lakebed, their shapes and details visible through the clear water. But the adventure didn’t end there. To truly get up close, Ian pulled on a mask and snorkel to explore the Joseph S. Fay, a freighter lost in 1905, just beneath the surface.
Join Ian as he explores the history and adventure of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Discover Lake Ontario’s forgotten wrecks (from home)
SEGMENT 2 | LAKE ONTARIO
How Canadian forests built a Chicago media empire
SEGMENT 3 | CHICAGO, IL ; THOROLD, ON
In the 20th century, the newspapers that landed on Chicago doorsteps carried with them a story that began hundreds of miles away, deep in the forests of Quebec. For decades, the Chicago Tribune relied on Canadian pulpwood to fuel its massive demand for newsprint.
At the center of this operation was the Ontario Paper Company, the creation of Tribune owner Robert McCormick. The Ontario Paper Company would harvest millions of acres of timberlands in Quebec, and transport them on Tribune owned ships to the company’s paper mill in Thorold, Ontario. From there, the paper would be transported to Chicago, where it would carry headlines, cartoons, and the news of the day to readers in Chicagoland and beyond.
The Fitzgerald’s Legacy and the Power of Tugs
Learn why shipwrecks stopped after the Edmund Fitzgerald and board a century-old tugboat.
Lost Ships and Newsworthy Trees
Explore shipwreck sanctuaries and a forest that fueled a media empire.
Casting Lines and Listening In
Researchers eavesdrop on forests, fishing for lake trout and the rights of nature.
Rescuing Freighters and Busting Swamps
A freighter takes on water in Lake Superior and a lawsuit over farming on wetlands.
Sturgeon Streams and Plastic Pollution
Restoring a threatened fish species and a look at microplastics in the Great Lakes.
Battling Invaders and Exploring Hidden Habitats
Fighting phragmites, lakebed mapping and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Killer Trees and Sacred Waters
How trees are fighting back against the emerald ash borer and restoring a sacred lake.
Too Many Geese and Not Enough Mussels
Managing Canada geese, saving freshwater mussels, and an Ojibwe lens on the fur trade.
Oil Spills and Buried Rivers
Preparing for a Great Lakes oil spill and a look at buried rivers beneath our feet.
Freighters on the Move
Freighter food, mail delivery, and the life of a Great Lakes freighter pilot.
Deep Dives and Rising Waters
The future of rising lake levels, Great Lakes shipwrecks, and the secret lives of fish.
Old Boats and New Adventures
Heritage sailing on Lake Huron and a historic passenger ship returns to its former glory.
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