Of all the forms that Bermuda’s local and international cultural heritage comes in, the one that most excites some people, particularly in its discovery, is that which derives from the sea by way of artifacts from shipwrecks. The wrecked ships are the largest artifact of a shipwreck, and their study and recording is important to our understanding of oceanic transport and commerce, for they were the only mode of communication between Bermuda and the wider world until the coming of the Pan Am “Clipper” in the late 1930s, symbolically named after ships, the fast “Tea Clippers” of the last days of sail. Shipwrecks are also exhibitions unto themselves, where they survive above the sand in all points of the compass in the reefs that surround Bermuda. That salient fact is acknowledged in the new National Tourism Plan and hopefully will lead to more focus on that area of cultural heritage by individuals and the authorities.Museums are the fundamental holders of heritage in most countries and have as one of their central duties the making of such legacies of the Past accessible to the Public. The fundamental way that this is accomplished is through exhibitions that incorporate artifacts in a setting of explanatory text, images and other data that is intended to transmit information to the Public for their edification and enjoyment. To some eyes, every artifact is a thing of beauty, and that is enhanced by the creation of professional and beautiful exhibition settings, such as has been recently accomplished in the new display of objects from the sea at the National Museum. On 13 September, the exhibition in the Queen’s Exhibition Hall (itself a work of architectural art) was officially opened by the Hon. Michael Weeks, JP, MP, who, as Minister of Public Works is responsible for Bermuda’s underwater heritage, cultural and otherwise.In his remarks, Minister Weeks noted: “Shipwrecks are one of Bermuda’s most important cultural resources. They are underwater museums offering the public, tourists, students and scholars a unique opportunity to investigate the remains of vessels that made our Western Hemisphere what it is today. Remnants of Spanish naos, English galleons, French frigates, American schooners, brigantines, paddle steamers, steamships, gunboats and (to name a few) can all be found on Bermuda’s ocean floor. They all show an extensive cross section of maritime technology and cultures over five hundred years, thus putting Bermuda on the map as the “Shipwreck Island” of the Western Atlantic.”“Not everyone has access to these shipwrecks and their historical stories, hence the importance of the work the Museum is doing. I would like to congratulate the Museum on their latest achievement: Shipwreck Island: Sunken Clues to Bermuda’s Past. The Museum has yet again expanded Bermuda’s cultural resource pool by providing a world-class exhibit that tells the story of Bermuda’s discovery and early settlement through the lens of shipwreck artifacts.”The Minister also reminded the invited audience that the Government was proud to have enacted a new law in 2001 to enhance the protection of Bermuda’s underwater cultural heritage and asked that all play their “part in assisting us with this valiant effort”.The exhibit honours those who discovered shipwreck artifacts in the past and who have helped to record and preserve such heritage. The vital others, who by their actions also acknowledge the discoverers, recorders and preservers, are the donors to the Shipwreck Island exhibit, without whom artifacts would not have been conserved, the exhibit building would not have been restored and enhanced, and the exhibitions themselves would not exist: these people and institutions are also heroes in the field of Bermuda’s underwater cultural heritage.Of the latter, the Chairman of the National Museum spoke thus: “The wonderful new displays and the historic building refurbishment and the upgrading of the landscaping would simply not have happened without the extraordinary support of the major donors to the project, including the Bermuda Government and Bank of Bermuda Foundation. Of the donors to the exhibit galleries, two, appropriately, are the local shipping enterprises, Bermuda Container Line and Bermuda International Shipping Ltd, while the Bermuda Electric Light Company has lit up a gallery as well. Of individuals and families, we have very strong Bermudian representation through the gifts of Mrs. Robert Chappell and Sharon Vesey, the Robert Steinhoff Family, the Alvin Ferreira Family, the Family of David Gutteridge, the Neil Stempel Family and the E.E. Stempel Foundation. The Kitson Group of Companies, the Acumen Group and Mr. J.P. Roed also assisted the project. Last, but in great number, were the friends of the late Harry Wilken, including Museum Trustee, John Lang.”The third human factor in such exhibitions is the scholars and professionals who bring the displays to life. In this instance, exhibit consultant, Dr Charlotte Andrews; Curator of the National Museum, Elena Strong and her staff team; designers Brimstone Media; and a number of contractors worked tirelessly to bring Shipwreck Island to your doorstep, so rise off your stoop and boogie up to Dockyard to check it out.Edward Cecil Harris, MBE, JP, PHD, FSA is Executive Director of the National Museum at Dockyard. Comments may be made to director@bmm.bm or 704-5480.