500 West Fletcher Street
Alpena, MI 49707
P: 989.884.6210
F: 989.354.0144
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Celebrate the 3rd Annual Lake Huron Discover Tour by joining the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan. Watch the sun set as the golden Harvest Moon illuminates Lake Huron for a spectacular evening aboard the Lady Michigan!

 

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

 

 

EVENT UPDATE: Due to the popularity of the October 6th Harvest Moon Dark Sky Cruise which sold out within the first week of availability, we have added a second Harvest Moon Dark Sky Cruise on Saturday, October 7. 

Watch the sun set at 7:04 pm and shortly thereafter watch the October Harvest moon rise. The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox (Sept. 22), and will be near 99 percent fullness on October 6&7. Thaddeus LaCoursiere, Besser Museum Planetarium coordinator, will narrate the Harvest Moon Dark Sky Cruise. 


6:15 pm: Prelude to cruise at the Besser Museum Planetarium for preview of October Dark Sky

6:45 pm: Lady Michigan glass-bottom boat boarding begins at dock behind NOAA building

9:00 pm: Arrive back at dock

To ensure the best dark sky exploration experience for all, only 60 tickets will be available for each event. The program on the boat will include two sessions on the upper deck for 30 people at a time. Hot apple cider, donuts, and other fall favorites will be served on the heated lower deck, along with maritime and star-gazing music and trivia. Michigan wine and beer will be available for sale.

Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased here or at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center (GLMHC, 500 West Fletcher Street, Alpena, Mich.), or by phone: 989-884-6200. Hot apple cider, fresh donuts, and other fall favorites will be served, along with a cash bar serving craft beers and wine. Purchased tickets can be picked up at the Sanctuary Store prior to boarding. If tickets are still available, they can be purchased prior to boarding as well, but in case the cruise sells out, interested parties are encouraged to call in advance to check availability and/or reserve tickets.

If lake conditions require cancellation of the boat cruise, programming will still take place indoors, and possibly on the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center roof deck with telescopes from the Besser Museum if weather permits. Rainchecks for a future boat cruise will be provided to ticket holders at the Sanctuary Store. All proceeds will benefit education programs at the Besser Museum and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

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The 4,300 square-mile Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary works to protect the Great Lakes and their rich history. Lake Huron's cold, fresh water preserves nearly 200 historic shipwrecks in and around the sanctuary. Through research, education, and community involvement, the sanctuary and its partners ensure that future generations can enjoy Thunder Bay's irreplaceable underwater treasures. Visit the sanctuary at http://www.thunderbay.noaa.gov and at http://www.facebook.com/ThunderBayShipwrecks.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

 

 

 

Thank You for Making Your Voices Heard!

 

More than 60,000 people across the US, including many who support the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, let their voices be heard by taking time to submit comments regarding President Trump’s Executive Order, “Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy,” that was issued on April 28th. The Executive Order directed the US Department of Commerce to review the designation and expansion of 11 national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments, which included Thunder Bay.


Without strong public support, we risk having the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary rolled back from its current 4,300 square miles, to 448 square miles. While we don’t know the final outcome yet, we do know that this was one of the largest public responses that the US Department of Commerce has ever received.


Please stay tuned and take advantage of every opportunity you have to let your elected officials know how important the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is to you, the community, and future generations!


The Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary appreciates your support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* School Groups

 

* Other Groups (motor coach tours, adults, families,

after-school programs, campers, etc.)

 

 

 

Transportation Funding Available for Rogers City/Presque Isle County School Groups!

 

 

The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan's Rogers City Arts and Education Fund, through the generosity of Beach and Marianne Hall, is providing $1,000 a school year to help cover transportation costs for Rogers City school groups to participate in place-based environmental education opportunities. Public and parochial schools are encouraged to collaborate when planning trips to provide as many students as possible the opportunity to have a great place-based learning experience. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis to school groups from throughout Presque Isle County.


The application process is easy. Just complete this "Transportation Funding Request" and email it to Katie Wolf at kwolf@thunderbayfriends.org. If you have questions, you can send an email to Katie or call her at 989-884-6210. This funding opportunity is being coordinated by the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and will be ongoing, from school year to school year for the foreseeable future.

 

 

 

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, with your help, is making things happen!


Established in October, 2010, the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary support the mission of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary – to identify, protect, conserve, and enhance the natural and maritime heritage resources, values, and qualities of the National Marine Sanctuary System for this and future generations throughout the nation.

Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is supported by generous donations from individual, corporate, and foundation donors as well as earned income from Sanctuary Store sales, special programs, and other fee-for-service initiatives. Gifts are managed by the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan.

 

 

 

 

Download our "Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary" brochure here.