Approximately 71% of Earth’s surface is covered with water and yet only about 5% of it has been documented by humans. Water is vital to life as we know it, yet, we know so very little about what exists in our oceans, seas, or lakes. Similarly, we know little about how these water systems behave, effect climate, or what secrets they harbor. Fortunately, over the past century scientists and explorers have begun to access the mysterious depths of our oceans and Great Lakes thanks to advances in technology.
At the Neville Public Museum, we are revealing these mysterious worlds through exhibits and public programs. Whether it is shipwrecks, submarines, or sea creatures that interest you, we invite your whole family to come and participate in this exciting adventure taking place in downtown Green Bay. The following exhibits and programs are being offered at the museum.
Exhibits:
Extreme Deep: Mission to the Abyss
September 19, 2015 – January 6, 2016
Come face-to-face with the last frontier - the deep sea. Meet Alvin, JASON and Remus, state-of-the-art robotic explorers that will take you on extreme deep adventures. There you’ll discover bizarre fish and tour sunken ships.
Shipwrecks of the Fox River
September 19, 2015 – January 6, 2016
This exhibit displays through photographs the removal of nine tugboats, barges and dredges that were extracted from the Fox River between 2013 and 2014. For more than three-quarters of a century, these workhorses of Green Bay’s early shipping days lay sunken in the Fox River Shipwreck Graveyard.
Navigating our Waterways
September 19, 2015 – January 6, 2016
This series of photographs and historic shipping ledgers illustrates the variety of vessels that worked Green Bay’s waters in pursuit of commerce and recreation. Whether they were schooners, tug boats, barges, or freighters, they all played a role in the development of this city’s landscape.
Events:
Saturday, October 17, 2015 11 am - 3 pm
All Hands on Deck for Hands-on Fun! Science activities, crafts, demonstrations, and games will be available at the museum for all ages. Learn about Scuba Diving and Wisconsin’s shipwrecks, Listen to pirate-themed stories and meet Pirate Pete for photo opportunities. Regular admission rates apply.
This series evening lectures brings some of the leading experts in their fields of Great Lakes research to the Neville Public Museum. These lectures are free and begin at 6pm.
October 6: Deep Water Archeology by Tamara Thomsen, underwater archaeologist for the Wisconsin Historical Society
October 13: The Great Lakes: Their Future by Val Klump, Director of the Great Lakes WATER Institute
October 20: Climate Change and the Great Lakes by Julia Noordyk, Coastal Storms and Water Quality Specialist
Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology and Maritime History Conference
Saturday October 10th (10am – 4pm)
This annual event brings together underwater archaeologists, maritime historians, and divers, for a day of presentations about maritime history and underwater archaeology in Wisconsin waters and beyond. Registration is $20 and is open to the public.
Kevin Cullen, Deputy Director