25th Annual Sonderegger Symposium “Great Lakes Maritime History”

The Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center at Northern Michigan University will host the 25th annual Sonderegger Symposium, which features several presentations revolving around Upper Peninsula history. The theme of this year’s event is Above and Below the Surface: Maritime History of the Great Lakes. It will be held on Friday, Nov. 14, in the Northern Center Ballroom IV. Admission is free, and includes a light lunch at noon.

Sonderegger25 is inspired by the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior, but will deal with far more than just that tragic event. The speakers are noted maritime scholars, authors, curators and divers who will present a breadth of knowledge. There will even be a performance of maritime music to conclude the day’s activities.

The Sonderegger Symposium is funded by a grant from the family of Richard Sonderegger, former head of NMU’s History Department.  Find more information on the event, including speaker bios, here. Below is the presentation schedule:

9 a.m.             Welcome: Daniel Truckey, Director/Curator, Beaumier Center

9:10 a.m.        Discovery of the Western Reserve: Bruce Lynn, Executive Director, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

10:10 a.m.       The Evolution of Underwater Search Technologies: Dan Fountain, Maritime Researcher and Diver

11:10 a.m.       Discoveries in Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Stephanie Gandulla, Research & Resource Protection Coordinator, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Noon               Lunch in Ballroom III

1 p.m.              They Had to Go Out – The men of the U.S. Life Saving Service: Fred Stonehouse, Maritime Scholar, Author, Lecturer

2 p.m.              Predicting the Storms of November: Matt Zika, Meteorologist, National Weather Service (retired)

3 p.m.              Isle Royale Shipwreck Survey by NMU, 1978-79: Eric Smith, Diver, Photographer and Broadcasting & AV Services General Manager (NMU), Emeritus

4 p.m.              Maritime Songs of the Great Lakes: The Knockabouts, a Celtic trio from Marquette