By Stefan Yablonski
The H. Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego manages and exhibits a collection of thousands of artifacts, images, archival records and original artworks telling more than 400 years of regional maritime history. It is also now helping to educate visitors about the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary.
“We have been here since 1982, 44 years. We get a lot of people from Central New York and from Downstate. We get a lot of people from other states and sometimes we get people from other countries. That’s pretty cool!” said Mercedes Niess, executive director.
“Canadians don’t come here as often as they once did because of the concern about the relationship between our countries. I think that will clear up at some point in the future.”
Oswego harbor, the oldest freshwater port in the United States, is the epicenter of Lake Ontario’s marine roots, Niess said.
“As a center for discovery, trade, warfare, innovation and commerce the southeastern shores of Lake Ontario played a pivotal role in the making of modern America,” she added. “The submerged cultural resources contained within those waters serve as a living testament to our combined regional maritime history, heritage and culture. The national marine sanctuary designation allows for the preservation, protection, education and access to these truly nationally significant, largely untapped, resources.”
Things are just starting to gear up now, she said.
“We had quite a few school tours visit recently. We have had all ages. We have had third graders and fourth graders, high school classes and groups from CiTi BOCES, even some college classes archology for example, had a field trip here. We have a lot of cool stuff that we are doing this year,” she said. “The marine sanctuary has heightened this for us, absolutely. Some of the tours are related to that. Oswego High School and CiTi BOCES both received grants that they applied for. (see list below). That is really exciting for us.”
The lighthouse tours are very popular and started June 19 for the season, she added.
The lighthouse, built to improve upon existing aids to navigation in a growing Oswego harbor in 1934, is still an active aid to navigation for Lake Ontario sailors today. This National Register of Historic Places site is representative of the Oswego’s rich maritime history, heritage and culture.
“The weather was not very conducive, so we had a pretty slow start. But that is OK. When the weather is not nice, people are hesitant to go out,” she said. “We have tours even if it is a little bit of rain like today. We only cancel if it is really like very windy or there is lightning. A little bit of rain doesn’t really bother us.”
“I think the cultural institutions are a major economic driver in this area. Collectively we are,” she continued. “The cruise ship people, American Cruise Line, they did their research. They started checking us out last year. They visited our site, saw what the city had to offer downtown. They thought we were an asset. So yeah, I think we are an economic force certainly. I would love it if we could have more of an impact as an economic engine.
Funding awarded
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation announced 16 community-led projects awarded funding in the second round of the Sanctuary Community Fund.
Funding will support marine sanctuary communities through stewardship projects in Chumash Heritage, Lake Ontario and Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuaries. More than $1 million was granted overall to community-led projects in various National Marine Sanctuaries in the second round of awards.
For Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary:
• H. Lee White Maritime Museum
Project Name: Depth & Discovery: Access, Awareness, and Collaboration in the LONMS
• Oswego City School District (OHS Outdoor Adventure Club)
Project Name: OAC: Aquatic Expeditions
• Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation
Project Name: Sanctuary Scholars: Education & Exploration on Lake Ontario
• Oswego City School District
Project Name: Our Great Lake, Our Sanctuary
• Weston T. Hyde Education Foundation
Project Name: Next Gen Sanctuary Underwater ROV Lab
