Sanctuary Speaker Series Features “Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary: Protecting & Researching Great Lakes Maritime Heritage” with Dr. Benjamin Ioset

OSWEGO – The H. Lee White Maritime Museum is pleased to present “Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary: Protecting & Researching Great Lakes Maritime Heritage” by maritime archaeologist Dr. Benjamin Ioset as part of their Sanctuary Speaker Series on Wednesday, October 28^th at 6:00pm.  Join us for this free program that highlights the exploration, documentation, and preservation of regional Great Lakes shipwrecks.  The H. Lee White Maritime Museum’s Sanctuary Speaker Series brings together experts in science, history, preservation, underwater exploration and archaeology, offering fresh perspectives on the Great Lakes and its cultural and natural resources.  This program is funded in part by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Sanctuary Community Fund. 

The Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary was designated in June 2024 to protect and recognize the nationally significant collection of shipwrecks and historic sites within the sanctuary’s boundaries.  Dr. Ioset’s talk will include an introduction to the sanctuary’s mission, current research objectives, and will feature several sanctuary shipwrecks.  Mercedes Niess, Executive Director of the Maritime Museum stated that “Dr. Ioset’s presentation brings the Sanctuary Speaker Series full circle, giving voice to some of our regions most prized historic resources, the shipwrecks of the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary.”

Dr. Ioset is a maritime archaeologist with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary.  A native of Central New York, he earned his PhD in 2021 from Texas A&M University where he specialized in the maritime archaeology of the Great Lakes.  In his work at the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary, he contributes to the sanctuary’s research, documentation and preservation efforts for a collection of nearly 100 historic shipwrecks.  For more information on the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary and all the great work they do, visit sanctuaries.noaa.gov/lake-ontario.

This program is offered free of charge and is open to the public.  The Maritime Museum and Treasure Chest Gift Shop are open daily, 1-5pm (10-5pm in July and August), on the West 1st St. Pier in Oswego Harbor’s Historic Maritime District.  For more information on this or other programs, contact the Maritime Museum at 315-342-0480 or visit hlwmm.org.