Saipan World War II Marine Heritage Trail

Saipan's Underwater Heritage:
Developing an Underwater WWII Heritage Trail

A public lecture by:
Jennifer McKinnon, PhD
Flinders University, Lecturer in Maritime Archaeology

Friday, June 25, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
Visitors Center Theater - American Memorial Park

Dr. McKinnon will provide an end-of-fieldwork report on a project to develop a World War II underwater heritage trail in the waters of Saipan Lagoon funded in part by a grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program.

The project involved completing an underwater survey supervised by marine archaeologists to locate, assess and document objects associated with the World War II battle for Saipan. Sites documented during the project include three tanks, four airplanes, two landing craft, a possible sub-chaser, a freighter and an LVT (Landing Vehicle Tracked).

The planned heritage trail will consist of individual site brochures, diving and snorkeling guides, and a website that tourists and divers can use to learn about the history of the sites. The trail will promote sustainable heritage tourism and stimulate the economy of Saipan while showcasing historically significant heritage sites in the beautiful Saipan lagoon. Dr. McKinnon will also discuss management strategies to ensure the long-term protection of these significant historic resources. The lecture will be illustrated by photographs and videos taken during the project.

This presentation is sponsored by the NMI Council for the Humanities as a part of its Community Lecture Series. Please contact the NMI Council for the Humanities at 235-4785 for more information about this upcoming event.

Thanks to the NMI Humanities Council

The NMI Humanities Council sponsored a lecture Saturday night on the topic "What Is A Marine Monument?" They brought in Jon Van Dyke, a law professor at University of Hawaii's William Richardson School of Law.

He gave an informative and balanced lecture, with power point presentation, at the American Memorial Park theatre. The session was fairly well attended, but there were empty seats.

There were orange-shirted supporters of the proposed Marianas Trench Marine National Monument in the audience, as well as published opponents.

No one knew what the professor would say, whether he would support or oppose the MTMNM. In the end, he encouraged the CNMI to engage in the discussion with the federal government and take the opportunity presented, but to stay actively involved in order to make the Monument our own and what we want.

He pointed out some of the difficulties and issues that would likely surface if we do get the MTMNM. He clarified that some "concerns" were non-issues (and "ridiculous"--his word).

The program will be aired on television. I encourage everyone to watch.

Thanks to the NMI Humanities Council. They provide valuable information and contribute greatly to the better understanding and appreciation in the community of issues of law, history, culture, tradition, and all arts. Kudos!

Learn More about Marine National Monuments

The NMI Council for the Humanities is sponsoring a public lecture on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 6:30 PM at the American Memorial Park. The lecture will discuss what a marine monument is.

This lecture is completely independent from the efforts of the Friends of the Monument and the Pew Charitable Trust. We don't know what's going to be said.

It will be presented by law professors from Hawaii and they'll discuss both the law and Hawaii's experience. It should be interesting.

And I hope it fires more people up to help support the Marianas Trench marine national monument project by doing the following:

WRITE LETTERS (If you want, call me to pick up your letter. I'll get it the office where it will be copied and mailed.)

WEAR ORANGE-October 20-24. Your MTMNM tee shirt is best, but any orange will help.

ATTEND THE 10/20 FORUM--this is the biggie at 5:30 PM at the Fiesta Resort. Wear orange there, too.