America has been a maritime nation since before it was a nation. This heritage is a legacy of thousands of years of settlement, exploration, immigration, harvesting the bounty of the seas and creating coastal communities and maritime traditions. Through the study, protection and promotion of this diverse legacy, sanctuaries help Americans learn more about our past. Learn more about our country's maritime history by reading "I'm Bound Away: Five Hundred Years of Watercraft In and Around Sanctuaries."












