[music]
>>BETH: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "FLORIDA CROSSROADS."
I'M BETH SWITZER.
FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, EXPLORERS HAVE SAILED FLORIDA WATERS LOOKING FOR TREASURE,
STAKING THEIR CLAIM AND ENCOUNTERING NATIVE AMERICANS WHO CALLED FLORIDA HOME FIRST.
BUT SOME OF THOSE SHIPS NEVER MADE IT TO SHORE.
WHILE THEIR PAST MAY BE MENTIONED IN HISTORY BOOKS,
THEIR REMAINS ARE STILL EVIDENT UNDERWATER.
KRYSTA BROWN TAKES US ON A JOURNEY OF SOME OF THOSE SHIPWRECKS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CHOSEN
AS A FLORIDA UNDERWATER ARCHEOLOGICAL PRESERVE.
>> FOR CENTURIES, MEN HAVE SAILED THE SEA, USING THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE STARS TO GUIDE THEM.
THEIR JOURNEYS HAVE TAKEN THEM UP, DOWN, AND AROUND THE PENINSULA WE KNOW TODAY AS FLORIDA.
BUT AS MANY EXPLORERS HAVE FOUND, NO MATTER HOW BIG THE BOAT
OR SKILLED THE SAILOR, SOMETIMES THE SEA HAS NO MERCY.
FLORIDA HAS A WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF SHIPWRECKS,
NOT ONLY OFFSHORE BUT IN THE RIVERS AND ELSEWHERE.
THOSE SHIPWRECKS ARE PART OF OUR MARITIME HERITAGE AND THEY WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
THEY DON'T GROW BACK IF THEY ARE DESTROYED OR DAMAGED, AND SO WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THEM
AND HONOR THEM AND PRESERVE THEM.
>> MORE THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN THE COUNTRY, FLORIDA HAS MORE SHIPWRECKS THAN ONE CAN COUNT.
MANY HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED, SALVAGED OR PLUNDERED,
BUT A SELECT FEW HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SECOND LIFE UNDER THE SEA AS AN ARCHEOLOGICAL WONDER.
ARCHAEOLOGY IS THE CLOSEST THING WE HAVE TO A TIME MACHINE AND IT'S TRUE.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER WAY THAT YOU CAN GO BACK INTO THE PAST.
AND I CAN SAY THIS BECAUSE I HAVE A DEGREE IN HISTORY AS WELL.
HISTORY IS WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO PROVE.
BUT AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES, ONCE YOU BEGIN TO DO THE DETECTIVE WORK INVOLVED
IN RESEARCHING WHAT THEY ARE, IT DOESN'T LIE TO YOU,
AND THE SHIPWRECK SITES EACH HAVE ITS OWN HISTORY TO TELL.
IN SOME CASES MANY DIFFERENT HISTORIES BEFORE THEY HAVE A NEW ROLE TO PLAY AS A HERITAGE SITE
AND EACH HAS ITS OWN STORY TO TELL.
>> DR. ROGER SMITH HELPED DEVELOP FLORIDA'S UNDERWATER ARCHEOLOGICAL PRESERVE PROGRAM,
THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.
ALL OF THESE MUSEUMS IN THE SEA, AS THEY ARE CALLED, ARE IN STATE WATERS.
THEIR OWNERS ARE THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA.
>> WE ARE A SMALL GROUP THAT WORK FOR THE DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES IS TO COME
AND BASICALLY, OUR JOB IS TO INSPECT AND RECORD AND TRY TO PRESERVE
AND PROMOTE FLORIDA ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES.
>> THOSE RESOURCES ARE SCATTERED AT THE BOTTOM OF RIVERS,
MANY BELOW THE WAVES ON THE OCEAN FLOOR.
AND IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA LIES A VESSEL KNOWN BY MANY NAMES AND JOURNEYS.
THE VAMAR LAYS ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MILES FROM THE MEXICO BEACH CANAL.
IT'S IN 20 FEET OF WATER JUST NORTH OF THE ST. JOE PENINSULA.
THE AVERAGE DEPTH IS ABOUT 20 FEET.
THE TOP PART OF THE VESSEL THAT REMAINS IS ONLY A 16 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.
YOU GO OUT THERE ON A NICE DAY WHEN THE WATER IS CLEAR
AND YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE OUTLAY OF THE VESSEL.
>> BUILT IN 1919 IN MIDDLEBORO, ENGLAND, THE VAMAR WAS ORIGINALLY CHRISTENED THE KILMARNOCK.
THE BRITISH MILITARY USED IT AS A PATROL GUN BOAT UNTIL IT WAS SOLD AND RENAMED THE CHELSEA.
IN 1928, IT TOOK ON ANOTHER NAME, THE ELEANOR BOLLING, NAMED BY U.S. ADMIRAL
AND EXPLORER RICHARD E. BYRD AFTER HIS OWN MOTHER.
BYRD PURCHASED THE VESSEL TO TRANSPORT PLANES AND CARGO TO THE ANTARCTIC.
THE SHIP BECAME THE FIRST METAL-HULLED VESSEL TO BE USED IN FRIGID WATERS AND ICEBERGS.
IT WAS NICKNAMED EVERMORE ROLLING BECAUSE IT WAS NOTORIOUSLY UNSTEADY IN THE SOUTH POLAR SEAS.
>> THE SHIP COMPLETED ITS MISSION WITH BYRD, BUT WITH ITS INFAMOUS HISTORY AS AN UNSTABLE VESSEL.
THE ELEANOR BOLLING CHANGED OWNERS AGAIN AND IN 1933, BECOMING THE VAMAR.
ON MARCH 19, 1942, IT WAS HAULING TIMBER FROM NEARBY PORT ST. JOE HEADING FOR CUBA.
>> AND IT WAS TOP-HEAVY AND THE PILOT TOLD THE CAPTAIN BUT IT WAS TOP-HEAVY AND EVEN
AFTER NAVIGATING THE TWO SHARP TURNS IT SOUNDS ON A FLAT STRAIGHTAWAY IN THE CALM SEAS
WHICH LED TO A LOT OF SUSPICION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A SABOTAGE INVOLVED IN THE SINKING
BECAUSE THIS WAS DURING WORLD WAR II.
IT HAD A FOREIGN THE CREW OF YUGOSLAVIANS, SPANISH CREW MEMBERS AND CUBANS.
AND THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SUSPICION GOING ON IN PORT SAINT JOE ABOUT THE CREW
BECAUSE THEY WOULD DESCRIBE THINGS AND THERE WERE REPORTS OF A MYSTERY WOMAN THAT WOULD COME
AND GO AND THE TOWNSPEOPLE WERE PRETTY CERTAIN THAT IT WAS SABOTAGED.
THERE WAS A THEORY THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SABOTAGED SO IT WOULD BLOCK THE SHIPPING CHANNEL
AND ANOTHER OF THE CREW MEMBERS THEMSELVES WERE AFRAID TO GO INTO THE OPEN OCEAN
TO FACE THE U-BOAT TO THE SABOTAGED IT SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO PUT THEMSELVES IN DANGER.
ACCORDING TO THE COAST GUARD INVESTED AT THAT TIME, THE SHIP WAS LOADED WITH A LOT OF HEAVY
AND WET LUMBER AT THE PORT OF ST. JOE AND IT TOOK OVER ACCORDING TO WHAT THE STORIES ARE
FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND AND WHEN IT GOT OUT OVER TO THE FAIRWAY JUST NORTH
OF THE ST. JOE PENINSULA IT MUST HAVE ENCOUNTERED ROLLING SEAS AND THE STORY HAS IT
THAT IT ROLLED AND FLIPPED OVER AND SUNK.
>> THERE'S ANOTHER MYSTERY BEHIND IT.
YOU GOT THE MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES I GUESS THE OFFICIAL ONE IS THEY WERE KIND OF TOP-HEAVY
AND AS THEY WERE COMING OUT THEY MANAGED TO JUST GET OUT OF THE SHIPPING CHANNEL AND WENT DOWN.
AND THEY ALL SWAM, THE CREW MEMBERS MANAGED TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE LAND
AND THEN WERE FOUND THE NEXT DAY.
SO I GUESS THAT'S WHAT STARTED THE LOCAL SUSPICION.
>> LOCAL DIVERS NEAR PORT ST. JOE AND MEXICO BEACH LOVE TO SHARE THE STORY OF THE VAMAR.
THE LOCATION OF THE LUMBER SHIP, AS IT'S SOMETIMES CALLED,
MAKES IT AN EASY DIVE FOR BEGINNERS.
>> ONE OF THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS WE HAVE IS THE GROUPER.
YOU CAN TYPICALLY SEE BETWEEN FOUR TO SIX EVERY SINGLE DIVE.
IF YOU GO ON A DAILY BASIS WHICH I DO.
THEY RANGE BETWEEN 150 TO 200 POUNDS UP TO ABOUT 450 TO 500-POUND FISH OUT THERE.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.
IT'S BEEN DOWN THERE OVER 70 YEARS.
THERE'S A LOT OF MARINE GROWTH AND IT HOLDS A LARGE AMOUNT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEA LIFE.
THE LARGE GOLIATH GROUPERS AND SOMETIMES NURSE SHARKS, STINGRAY, DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUPERS
AND SNAPPERS, LOTS OF SEA FISH, GRASSES, I MEAN THERE'S SO MUCH GOING
ON THERE YOU'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING EVERYWHERE AND YOU ARE MISSING SOMETHING.
IT'S A GREAT ENCOUNTER WITH LOGGERHEAD TURTLES.
THE VESSEL IS LAYING ON ITS SIDE AND THERE IS SO MUCH MARINE GROWTH ON THERE
THAT YOU SOMETIMES WOULD THINK OKAY THIS IS NOT A WRECKED VESSEL.
IT HAS COLORFUL WIDTHS ON IT FROM A CORALS, SEA FANS.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
IT'S ONLY 20 FEET OF WATER INTO A GREAT PLACE FOR DIVERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN OUR HISTORY AND IT'S A NATURAL HISTORIC SITE.
PEOPLE CAN GO DOWN THERE AND, YOU KNOW, PONDER WHAT HAD HAPPENED DURING THE LIFE OF THE VESSEL
AND THAT LED TO ITS, DEMISE, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON IT.
ANOTHER FACET IS JUST ENJOYING THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
THAT THE RACK PROVIDES AS AN ARTIFICIAL REEF.
A LOT OF PEOPLE GO DOWN AND SWIM.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SPOT TO DO THAT.
>> BUT WHILE MOST OF FLORIDA'S SHIPWRECKS LIE IN SALT WATER, THE STEAMBOAT KNOWN AS THE CITY
OF HAWKINSVILLE RESTS AT THE BOTTOM OF FLORIDA'S FAMED SUWANNEE RIVER.
MIKE MCCASKILL RECALLS THE HISTORY OF THE 1896 STEAMER FROM HAWKINSVILLE, GEORGIA,
ITS LIFE AS A PASSENGER AND CARGO SHIP, A LUMBER BOAT, AND ITS LATER ABANDONMENT
IN THE DARK WATERS OF THE SUWANNEE.
THE RETIRED SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ALSO REMEMBERS THE DAY HE FIRST LAID EYES ON THE UNDERWATER MUSEUM.
>> I WAS 13 YEARS OLD.
I HAD ALWAYS BEEN A WATER BUG.
I WOULD CROSS THE CITY AND WALK BACK
TO THE RIVER THE WAY MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME HE WAS LOCATED.
HE HAD RIDDEN ON IT AS A YOUNG MAN IN 1900.
SPENT ABOUT 15, 20 MINUTES DIVING AND FINALLY FOUND THE WRECK.
IT EXCITED ME.
IT HAD THREE PLACES IT WOULD CALL HOME WITH WHAT IT WAS DOING.
CEDAR KEY AT OLD TOWN AND BRANFORD.
ONE OF THE PRODUCTS WAS FOR THE TRANSPORT OF THE LOGS FROM THE NORTH END OF THE RIVER COMING
OUT OF GEORGIA IN FLORIDA AND TRANSPORT THEM DOWN TO THE MILLS IN CEDAR KEY
AND THAT'S WHERE THE PENCILS WERE PRODUCED.
FROM AROUND EARLY 19 HUNDREDS TO 1922.
IN 1914 IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE DEMISE OF HAWKINSVILLE.
BUT IT WAS BEGINNING TO MAKE AN INPUT INTO THIS PART OF FLORIDA.
SO IT ASSISTED IN BASICALLY THE WATER WORK TRANSPORTING MATERIALS
AND THEN AS A PLATFORM TO BUILD.
ONCE THE TRESTLE WAS COMPLETED, IT CONTINUED FOR A FEW YEARS
BUT THE RAILROAD WAS OVERTAKING TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSPORTING GOODS.
SO THE CAPTAIN AT THE TIME HAD A STATION AT THE END TOWN LANDING.
IN 1922 BECAUSE OF THE BUSINESS HE DECIDED TO LEAVE IT TIED UP AND ABANDONED.
IT STAYED ABANDONED UNTIL IT SANK AFTER SOMETIME AFTER 1922.
AND THEN IT IS UNHEARD OF EXCEPT FOR SOME OF THE OLD TIME THAT USED TO TRAVEL ON IT.
>> OVER THE YEARS, MCCASKILL HAS RETURNED TO THE HAWKINSVILLE, MOSTLY TO INTRODUCE NEW DIVERS
OR STUDENTS TO THE AREA'S HISTORY.
BUT IN 1989, SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT LED TO THE TRANSFORMATION
OF THE DERELICT VESSEL INTO A STATE PRESERVE.
>> RECEIVED A FLYER FROM THE DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES IN TALLAHASSEE
THAT WERE ANNOUNCING THE NOMINATION OF A THIRD UNDERWATER PARK.
LUCKILY, AT THE TIME A MARINE SCIENCE PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED INCLUDING
ABOUT FIVE OR SIX HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND LUCKILY HAD PURCHASED A LARGE THREE-QUARTER CAMERA, BROADCAST QUALITY.
AND IT HAD FILMED THE RIG ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING.
SO THE NOMINATION CAME IN.
I LOOKED AT IT AND I SAID I DID HAWKINSVILLE WOULD BE A FINE SIGHT TO CONSIDER.
SO I PACKAGED UP THE NOMINATION FORM WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION THEY REQUIRED
AND THEY LITERALLY JUMPED IN MY BACK POCKET WITHIN A DAY OR SO FROM RECEIVING THAT.
AND IT JUST STARTED FROM THERE.
THEY HAVE A BIG NOMINATION JUST ON THE RIVER AND THIS
BY FAR BEING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL WAS FAR MORE OUTSTANDING THAN THE OTHER TEN.
SO IT WAS ALMOST A GIVEN THAT THIS WOULD BE THE NOMINATION FOR THAT UNDERWATER PRESERVE.
ORIGINALLY, AND WAS BUILT IN 1986 -- 1896 WITH A DOUBLE DECK SO YOU HAVE 12 STATEROOMS
AND IT WOULD ACCOMMODATE 24 PASSENGERS.
THE LOWER DECK WAS THE CARGO AND IN THE CENTER OF THAT WAS BASICALLY THE WHOLE THAT WAS OPEN
BUT IT WAS RECESSED DOWN INTO THE HOLD ON THE LOWER DECK.
THE BOAT WAS STIRRED AND DRIVEN ONE ON EACH SIDE AND THAT OPERATED ON THE STERN.
WHEN IT FINALLY WAS ABANDONED, THE UPPER DECK IN THE PILOT HOUSE
AND ALL THAT BASICALLY WAS ABOVE THE LINE.
SO THAT WAS TORN DOWN SOMETIME IN THE LATE 20S.
THE LOWER DECK HAD A LOT OF THE STRUCTURE AND THE CYLINDERS, THE DECK ITSELF, THE PADDLEWHEEL,
ALL OF THAT STILL REMAINS INTACT AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY DIE DOWN INTO THE WATER.
>> THE NATURALLY OCCURRING TANNIC ACID FROM RIVERBANK VEGETATION
AND FALLEN TREES CONTRIBUTES TO ITS PRESERVATION.
LOCALS IN THE SMALL NORTH FLORIDA TOWNS NEARBY LIKE TO THINK OF THE CITY OF HAWKINSVILLE
AS THE LAST GREAT STEAMBOAT TO RIDE THE SUWANNEE.
>> BUT AS THE DARK WATERS OF THE SUWANNEE PRESERVE THE CITY OF HAWKINSVILLE INLAND,
WRECKS ALONG FLORIDA'S SEASHORE AREN'T SO LUCKY.
COUNTLESS STORMS AND HURRICANES LEAVE THEIR MARK ON SHIPWRECKS.
AND THE TIDE SERVES AS A CONSTANT EBB AND FLOW, WIPING AWAY A SLATE
OF SAND ONLY TO BRING IN ANOTHER LAYER.
OUT OF ALL OF FLORIDA'S UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRESERVE THIS ONE MAY BE THE
CLOSEST TO SHORE.
THE REGINA RESTS JUST OFF THE COAST OF ANNA MARIA ISLAND AND MANY
OF THE BEACHGOERS DON'T EVEN KNOW SHE'S OUT THERE.
>> I'M A THIRD OR FOURTH GENERATION RESIDENT OF THIS AREA AND MY GRANDMOTHER AND I USED
TO DRIVE RIGHT ALONG THIS ROAD WHEN IT WAS A DIRT ROAD AND SHE CALLED IT THIS SUGAR BARGE.
WE ALSO KNOW IT AS THE MOLASSES BORAGE AND OF COURSE THE PROPER NAME OF THE REGINA.
THE REGINA WAS ORIGINALLY CONTRACTED IN 1904 IN IRELAND.
SHE WAS BUILT AS A MOTORIZED STEAMER AND LATER CONVERTED TO A BARGE.
AND AS A WORKING BARGE, SHE WOULD HOLD MOLASSES.
THAT WAS HER MAIN JOB.
AND THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS DOING WHEN SHE MET HER END RIGHT HERE.
THAT WAS IN 1940.
SHE WAS LOADED WITH MOLASSES IN CUBA MADE
FROM THE SUGARCANE THERE THAT WE ALL KNOW IS GROWN THERE.
AND SHE WAS HEADED FOR NEW ORLEANS.
WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS MOLASSES IS STILL TODAY USED IN A LOT OF CATTLE FEED.
AND SO, THAT WAS PROBABLY THE DESTINATION FOR THE MOLASSES.
SHE HAD ABOUT 300,000 GALLONS OF THIS STUFF ONBOARD AND MADE IT JUST NORTH OF HERE
AND THE STORM CAUGHT HER AND PUT HER TO REST RIGHT HERE.
THE STORM ACTUALLY PART OF THE TWO LINE BETWEEN REGINA AND THE TOW BOAT WHICH IS
ABOUT 7 MILES NORTH OF THIS POINT.
THE WINDS AND WAVES PUSHED HER BACK TO THIS POINT.
THERE WERE EIGHT CREW ON BOARD INCLUDING THE CAPTAIN WHEN SHE LEFT CUBA.
AND IN SPITE OF SEVERAL RESCUE ATTEMPTS, THE REGINA WAS FOUNDED HERE THE WIND
AND THE SEA WERE JUST TOO ROUGH AND THE RESCUERS HAD TO WAIT
UNTIL THE STORM SUBSIDED BEFORE THEY COULD MAKE SUCCESSFUL RESCUE ATTEMPTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, ONE CREW MEMBER DID TRY TO SWIM TO SHORE UP HIS OWN
AND HE WAS THE ONLY CREW MEMBER LOST.
THE REST WERE RESCUED.
>> THE REGINA LIES JUST ACROSS THE BRIDGE FROM CORTEZ, AN HISTORIC SEAFOOD VILLAGE
IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WITH CHARTER FISHING BOATS AND DIVE SHOPS.
WHILE FLORIDA LAW PROHIBITS BOATS FROM ANCHORING DIRECTLY ON THE PRESERVE,
LOCAL FISHERMAN FREQUENT THE AREA.
NOVICE DIVERS ALSO LIKE TO EXPLORE.
>> THERE WILL BE FISHING BOATS THERE, DIVING BOATS, THERE ARE STONE CRABBERS
THAT CRAB AROUND DURING STONE CRAB SEASON.
THE RESIDENT POPULATION INCLUDES MANY, MANY TROPICAL FISH FROM ANGELFISH TO LIZARD FISH.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS OF INVERTEBRATES LIKE THE STONE CRAB AND HERMIT CRAB,
STARFISH AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.
SO IT'S A REFUGE FOR A LOT OF MARINE LIFE IN AN OTHERWISE DESERT SAND.
>> BUT WHILE THE EBB AND FLOW OF THE TIDE CONTINUES TO COVER AND REVEAL WHAT'S LEFT
OF THE REGINA, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STATE ANOTHER WRECK HAS BECOME PART
OF THE NATURAL RIDGE ALONG SOUTH FLORIDA KNOWN AS THE POMPANO DROP-OFF.
IT'S NOT ONLY A POPULAR HANG OUT FOR SEA LIFE, IT ALSO ATTRACTS DIVERS
AND SNORKELERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
>> FOR SOME WATERFRONT COMMUNITIES IN FLORIDA,
THE UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRESERVES PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THEIR BUSINESS.
AS FOR COPENHAGEN, IT'S A VERY POPULAR PRESERVE.
IN FACT IT'S THE MOST POPULAR RESERVE IN FLORIDA BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION AND IT'S
IN SHALLOW WATER, ABUNDANT MARINE LIFE AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR NEW DIVERS
TO DO THEIR CHECKOUT DIVES OR PEOPLE WHO ARE VISITING
AND MAYBE NEED A REFRESHER TO COME VISIT THE SITE.
YET IT WILL ALSO HOLD THE ATTENTION OF THE MORE ADVANCED FIBER BECAUSE THERE IS
SO MUCH STRUCTURE DOWN THERE TO SEE.
>> IT WAS BUILT IN ENGLAND IN 1898 AND IT WAS DOING CARGO WORK FROM A LONG THE EAST COAST.
IT WAS CARRYING ABOUT 5,000 TONS OF COAL FROM PHILADELPHIA DOWN TO CUBA
AND IT WAS HEADING ALONG THE COAST AND I THINK IT WAS MAY 26,
1900 WHEN IT ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE REEF.
>> THE WRECK WAS ALMOST SALVAGE COMPLETELY.
AND THEN THE SALVAGE CREWS WERE CALLED TO HOBOKEN NEW JERSEY BECAUSE OF A FIRE.
SO, THE STORY OF COPENHAGEN IS ONE OF FAILURE JUST ON THE VERGE OF SUCCESS.
IT ALMOST WAS REFLOATED, AND THEN SADLY IT WAS LEFT TO BE TURNED APART FOR THE ELEMENTS.
>> THEY HAD AIRFIELDS DURING WORLD WAR II AND THE NAVY PILOTS TRAINED.
THE FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE H. W. BUSH WAS ONE OF THE PILOTS ASSIGNED TO FORT LAUDERDALE
AND THEY USED TO USE AS TARGET PRACTICE.
THE DIVERS FIND THEM ON THE WRECK AND IT WAS FROM THE TARGET PRACTICE
BECAUSE IT WAS AN ABANDONED WRECK NOBODY THERE AND IT WAS THE 40S,
SO SOUTH FLORIDA WASN'T VERY HEAVILY POPULATED WITH PEOPLE LIVING DOWN HERE AT THE TIME.
>> THIS VESSEL WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF A DESIGN SHIFT
BETWEEN THE WOODEN SAILING VESSELS AND THE CARGO TODAY.
THIS IS A STEAMER WITH A DOUBLE ON THE OUTSIDE AND IT'S SHAPED LIKE A FLOATING CARGO CONTAINER.
AND ITS PROFILE IS QUITE SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE STEAMERS THAT YOU WILL SEE RIGHT
UP UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE 1900s.
I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT WHEN I WAS WORKING AS A REPORTER
FOR THE FORT LAUDERDALE NEWS SUN CENTENNIAL.
I THINK IT WAS DOCTOR SMITH SAID THEY WERE THINKING
OF ESTABLISHING THIS WRECK AS A STATE UNDERWATER PRESERVE.
SO, I HEARD STORIES ABOUT IT AND THEN I WAS THEY ARE ACTUALLY THE DAY
THAT IT WAS DEDICATED AS A PRESERVE.
THE FUNNY THING IS AT THE TIME WE ALL THOUGHT THAT IT WAS OFF OF THE CITY OF POMPANO BEACH.
I FOUND OUT LATER ON BUT ACTUALLY IT WAS AN UNINCORPORATED AREA BUT BETWEEN LAUDERDALE
BY THE SEA AND POMPANO BELONGS TO THE COUNTY.
IT WASN'T PART OF ANY CITY.
AFTER 2001, THE TOWN ANNEXED TO THAT AREA, AND I WAS WITH THE TOWN OF THE TIME BUT I SAID
TO THE TOWN MANAGER I SAID DO YOU KNOW WHY WE HAVE THIS HISTORIC WRECK OFF OUR SHORE,
ITS OFF THE SHORE NOW AND NO ONE REALLY REALIZED IT.
IT'S ONLY ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH AND IT'S IN PRETTY SHALLOW WATER 15 TO 30 FEET.
AS A RESULT YOU GET ON THE BEACH OF POMPANO AND YOU CAN BE TO THE WRECK IN 15 MINUTES.
IT IS SO CLOSE TO THE END LAND.
SO WE HAVE LOCAL DIVING SHOPS THAT GO THERE ON A DAILY BASIS WITH THE WEATHER GOOD.
IT HAS AT LEAST 10,000 VISITORS A YEAR.
>> WE GET A LOT OF LOCALS THAT HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT BUT THEY HAVE NEVER DONE THE DIVE SITE.
SO THEY COME OUT TO TRY IT.
ONE OF THE NEAT THINGS IS WE SHOW IT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER HAD ANY IDEA
THAT THERE WAS ANY MARITIME HISTORY.
IT JUST GETS OVERLOOKED.
IT IS JUST A GREAT DIVE SITE.
IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY NATURAL WRECKS THAT WE HAVE IN THE AREA THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY STILL SEE.
WE HAVE A LOT OUT THERE IN THE 70 TO 130-FOOT RANGE FOR ARTIFICIAL REEF PROGRAMS.
THOSE ARE DYING FOR CREATIONS BUT FOR THE NATIONAL WRECK THAT HAS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE,
THE COPENHAGEN IS ONE OF THE ONLY ONES YOU CAN SEE.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF NEAT LOOKING FISH.
IT WAS PRETTY COOL.
THERE WAS A NICE LITTLE PLAQUE COMMEMORATING AT THE ANCHOR AND A LOT OF LIFE THAT I SAW.
IT'S AMAZING.
THE COLORS.
>> MY MOM CAME TO GO HANG GLIDING WITH AN OLD FRIEND,
SO ME AND MY BROTHER DECIDED TO GO GET A CERTIFICATION.
IT WAS A BUNCH OF -- IT WAS HARD TO TELL BUT IT WAS A SHIP.
SOMETIMES I COULDN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROCKS AND THE SHIP BUT IT WAS COOL TO SEE.
I GOT TO SEE ONE OF THE ANCHORS SITTING THERE AND IT WAS COVERED WITH CORAL.
>> IS GREAT FOR TOURISM.
BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE MARINE LIFE ON THE WRECK YOU GET THE COMMERCIAL TOURISM
BECAUSE PEOPLE COME FOR DIVING AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO VISIT THE WRECK.
ALSO FOR THE HISTORICAL TERMS.
IT TIES US TO THE PAST.
FLORIDA HAS A RICH MARITIME HISTORY AND COPENHAGEN IS PART OF THAT AND WE ARE PROUD
THAT WE HAVE THIS ON THE REGISTER OFF OF OUR SHORE.
>> EVERY SHIPWRECK LISTED AS A FLORIDA UNDERWATER ARCHEOLOGICAL PRESERVE IS ALSO
ON THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF HISTORIC PLACES.
EACH HAS A PLAQUE NEARBY DESCRIBING ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
AND ITS STATUS AS A MUSEUM IN THE SEA.
>> WE REALLY COULD USE THE PUBLIC'S HELP AND THAT IS WHAT THE PRESERVE IS
ABOUT IS ENLISTING THE HELP OF THE WATERFRONT COMMUNITIES IN ORDER
TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THESE SITES.
AND IN LARGE MEASURE, THEY ARE ADOPTED BY A LOCAL AREA THAT KEEPS AN EYE ON THEM
AND MAKES SURE THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED.
AND TO ALSO ENJOY.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SHIPWRECKS IN FLORIDA IS
THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST TO BE PROTECTED.
THEY ARE TO BE VISITED.
>> ALL SHIPWRECKS ARE PROTECTED BY STATE LAW UNDER CHAPTER 267.
AND ALL UPLAND SITES ARE PROTECTED BY THE SAME LAW.
AND IN ORDER TO DISTURB OR DO ANY RESEARCH, THERE NEEDS TO BE A PERMIT INVOLVED,
AND THESE PRESERVES ARE GIVEN EXTRA PROTECTION BECAUSE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ADOPTS THEM.
AND IF ANYBODY IS DISTURBING THAN, IF ANYBODY IS TAKING THINGS, IF ANYBODY IS BREAKING THE LAW,
THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WILL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
SO, PEOPLE HAVE ADOPTED THEM AS SHAREHOLDERS IN THE PROCESS OF PRESERVING THE HISTORIC SITES OR,
FOR US IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC AND GET THE PUBLIC INTIMATELY INVOLVED
IN THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE BEEN MAKING BROCHURES, BUT I THINK THESE DAYS PEOPLE WANT TO SEE SOME UNDERWATER VIDEO.
AND SO, WE SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF TIME READING HIGH-DEFINITION UNDERWATER VIDEO.
SO PEOPLE COULD TAKE AN UNDERWATER TOUR, GUIDED TOUR WITHOUT GETTING WET.
HOPEFULLY IT WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY COME TO FLORIDA
AND VISIT THESE SITES ONCE THEY GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY ARE ALL ABOUT.
>> THE SHIPWRECKS IN FLORIDA ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TAKE ONLY PICTURE AND LEAVE BUBBLES BECAUSE THEY ARE PROTECTED.
>> THIS LIKE MANY OTHER THINGS IN HISTORIC RESERVATION
AND CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IS AN EXPERIMENT AND WE ARE FINDING
THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO HAVE A SITE INTERPRETED IN THEIR BACKYARD
BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS PART OF THEIR HISTORY.
PART OF THE RESOURCES THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T GET TO SEE BUT NOW WILL, AND IT REPRESENTS REVENUE
FOR THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF HERITAGE TOURISM, RECREATIONAL TOURISM
AND ECOLOGICAL TOURISM ALL WRAPPED UP IN ONE DESTINATION.
>> FAMOUS UNDERWATER EXPLORER JACQUES COUSTEAU ONCE SAID, "THE SEA, ONCE IT CASTS ITS SPELL,
HOLDS ONE IN ITS NET OF WONDERS FOREVER."
THE SAME MIGHT BE SAID FOR THE WONDERS THAT CAN BE FOUND OFF FLORIDA'S COAST.
AND IN A STATE MANY OF US CALL HOME.
>>BETH: A FULL LIST OF FLORIDA'S UNDERWATER ARCHEOLOGICAL PRESERVES CAN BE FOUND
AT THE WEBSITE, MUSUEMSINTHESEA.COM.
VISITORS TO THE SITES ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ONLY PICTURES AND LEAVE ONLY BUBBLES.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "FLORIDA CROSSROADS."
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.