The Macomb Cultural Center is offering a series of free presentations focusing on different facets of the shipwrecks of the Great Lakes, from the personal story of the sole survivor of a 1966 sinking of a steel ore carrier to the exploration of the wrecks and the findings of archaeologists and historians. The presentations are part of the Great Lakes, Great Stories: Michigan's Maritime Heritage, a two-month series of programs exploring the history, romance and legacy of the Great Lakes.

Friday, Nov. 2, 10:30 a.m. and Saturday, Nov. 3, 2 p.m. - Sole Survivor of the Daniel J. Morrell Shipwreck
Sole survivor Dennis Hale recounts the disaster of the Morrel, a 603-foot steel ore carrier that left the St. Clair River at Port Huron in late November 1966 on what was to be the "last trip of the season." Instead, the carrier faced winds exceeding 70 mph, which caused the carrier to break in half, with sections colliding before sinking.

Saturday, Nov. 10, 2 p.m. - Mystery of November Storms
Shipwreck explorer and PBS producer Ric Mixter, a leading authority on the great gales that have ravaged the Great Lakes mariners since 1905, shares his insight on Great Lakes shipwrecks. Mixter shares stories from the sailors who took on the "King of Storms" in 1913, how a little fishing tug saved 17 lives during the Armistice Day Storm of 1940 and Michigan's largest shipwreck, the Carl D. Bradley.

Saturday, Nov. 10, 10:30 a.m. - Diving for the Past
David Trotter, shipwreck discoverer, diver, author, lecturer and photographer overviews 30 years of discovery and exploration of Michigan's Great Lakes history.

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m. - The Legend Lives …the Edmund Fitzgerald
Jim and Pat Stayer, divers for more than 30 years, present details of the ship's history and sinking, daring rescue attempts and exploration of the wreck site, showing never-before-seen video, as well as first-hand commentary on the sea conditions the night the Fitzgerald sank.

Thursday, Nov. 15, 2 p.m. - History Beneath the Waters
Cathy Green, maritime archaeologist with Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, recounts the stories of the shipwrecks frozen in time underneath the waters off Alpena, sharing the findings of archaeologists and historians who are studying the sites to uncover Lake Huron's maritime past.

To register for presentations or for more information on cultural center programs, call 586.445.7348 or visit www.macombculturalcenter.com.

Media Contact: Tish Wirth

Phone: 586.445.7560

Email: wirthp@macomb.edu