Did you know that much of Florida's archaeology is underwater? Florida has numerous submerged prehistoric and historic sites as well as thousands of wrecked and abandoned watercraft.

Some of these shipwrecks have been nominated to become underwater archaeological preserves that reflect Florida's rich maritime heritage. They include a Spanish galleon, a tanker a Scottish freighter, and American battleship, a German racing yacht and a tramp steamer. Florida’s first shipwreck preserve, Urca de Lima, was part of a Spanish treasure fleet that ran aground off Fort Pierce in 1715. Visitors can see the ballast pile and hull structure, as well as replica cannons.

The most recent preserve, Georges Valentine, was an Italian owned steel sailing bark, lost off the coast of Stuart, Florida in 1904. You can tour Florida's underwater archaeological preserves on the internet without even leaving home or getting wet , or you can visit www.museumsinthesea.com. There you can view brochures, photos, and videos about each site's history, biology, and archeology.

Information provided by the Florida Division of Historical Resources, a division of the Florida Department of State.