IN MY OPINION: The Shipwreck Coast Sanctuary embraces Port’s marine heritage

By SCOTT HUEBNER

Recently, Ozaukee Press published an editorial encouraging the citizens of Port Washington to embrace our vibrant, historic downtown as Port Washington’s defining identity.

Our historic downtown is—and should remain—the heart and soul of our city. It is where our community gathers, where small businesses thrive, where history is preserved, and where our civic pride is most visible. Its beautiful lakefront setting offers residents and visitors an experience that few comparable small towns can match. The combination of historic architecture, walkable streets, locally owned shops, restaurants and direct access to the waterfront creates a sense of place that cannot be replicated.

In years past, our lakefront was home to factories, a coal dock and a thriving commercial fishing industry. Today, we have evolved, yet our connection to the water remains strong. Beyond its outstanding recreational amenities, our lakefront also offers meaningful historical and educational experiences.

In 2021, the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, stretching from Two Rivers to Port Washington, was officially designated. This recognition has introduced a growing new segment of heritage tourism to our community while strengthening both educational initiatives and long-term economic development.

In just a few years, the sanctuary has made substantial and tangible contributions to our region. The sanctuary has installed 24 mooring systems and marker buoys at popular shipwreck sites. These moorings increase access for paddling, snorkeling and diving while protecting nationally significant historic resources from anchor damage.

Additionally, three real-time data buoys provide wind, wave and water temperature information to the public. This enhances public safety, improves scientific understanding of Lake Michigan, and offers valuable data to recreational and charter anglers.

In partnership with the private sector, NOAA has mapped 95% of the sanctuary’s lakebed in high resolution—an extraordinary accomplishment considering that only about 15% of the entire Great Lakes system has been mapped at this level of detail. This project alone contributed more than $330,000 economically through fuel purchases, marina services, lodging and meals.

The sanctuary has developed exhibits in each of the coastal communities, including one for the Port Washington Historical Society, which can be viewed in its downtown location.

By preserving and promoting our historic shipwrecks and maritime heritage, the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary deepens our historic lakefront downtown identity and elevates the overall lakefront experience for residents and tourists alike.

To further support initiatives that go above and beyond available NOAA and State resources, the Friends of Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast has been established. This Friends group helps fund additional educational programs and research projects that directly benefit our community.

To learn more about current projects and ways to get involved, visit shipwreckcoastfriends.org.

If we are to define ourselves, let it be as the place where people gather, celebrate, and connect—our remarkable historic downtown and its irreplaceable lakefront.

The author is a former president of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary and a former mayor of Port Washington