Research
Along with the National Museum of the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes Historical Society operates the Peachman Great Lakes Shipwreck Research Program. Since our founding in 1945, we have published the award winning journal Inland Seas®.
Shipwreck Research
The Peachman Great Lakes Shipwreck Research Program (PGLSRP) is owned and operated by of The Great Lakes Historical Society. Its primary purpose is to locate and investigate shipwrecks in Lake Erie but also conducts investigations throughout the Great Lakes.
The Center also serves as a focal point of organizing maritime archaeology workshops, documenting Lake Erie shipwrecks, and disseminating shipwreck information to the general public and specific user groups. In addition, the PGLSRP serves as the headquarters for MAST, the Maritime Archaeological Survey Team, Inc., which is an avocational group dedicated to the documentation of Ohio’s underwater historic resources.
Each year, The Great Lakes Historical Society through PGLSRP and MAST host a Nautical Archaeology Workshop. This workshop is open to all interested parties and is the only requirement for membership into MAST. The participants enjoy two days of lecture and hands on training. Topics covered include: the importance of nautical archaeology, ship construction, shipwreck documentation, and laws and ethics of shipwrecks. For information about the upcoming GLHS-MAST Nautical Archaeology Workshop – Click Here.
Inland Seas
Inland Seas is a wealth of information. We have been publishing articles on Great Lakes History for 70 years! NMGL does not yet have a comprehensive online index. A subject index has been attempted – access it here. Many libraries across the Great Lakes subscribe to Inland Seas, or you can request article re-prints at 419-214-5000.
Library
The Clarence S. Metcalf Great Lakes Maritime Research Library has been donated to the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes at Bowling Green State University. This transfer includes all of the photographs, postcards, and primary resources. GLHS/NMGL still has maintained our collection of log books and ship plans, which are currently stored offsite. At this time, research requests should be directed to the HCGL: 419-372-2441; archive@bgsu.edu
PGLSRP Partners
Research Links
Historical Collection of the Great Lakes – Bowling Green State University
Maritime History of the Great Lakes – Walter Lewis
Great Lakes Maritime Collection – Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Alpena Public Library
Project Shipshape – Wisconsin Marine Historical Society and Milwaukee Public Library
Great Lakes Shipwreck File – David Swayze
Smith’s Master Index to Maritime Museum Web Sites
Council of American Maritime Museums
Association for Great Lakes Maritime History
To suggest links for our Great Lakes Research Page – please submit them to shipwreck@nmgl.org.