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Ships have carried people and goods across oceans and seas for centuries. The history of the United States, in fact, cannot be understood separate and apart from the sea. North America was explored, settled, and for much of its history, sustained by the sea. Yet America's maritime history often is overlooked by those studying our nation's past.
America's maritime heritage is broad and inclusive. Within its web are rivers, canals and inland seas; Americans of all backgrounds, men and women, have cultural and economic connections to the sea. Even in the modern age of air and space travel, ships remain critical to commercial trade and to human transport. But America's maritime history is rapidly being lost. Majestic tall ships, humble fishing fleets, and the ships that safeguarded America's freedom-these and other important symbols of our nautical heritage are vanishing at an alarming rate, as time, the elements, and financial woes send more and more of them to the bottom of the sea, or to the ravages of the scrapyard.
"Save Our Ships" is the History Channel's effort, in conjunction with National Maritime Historical Society, to stem this tide of deterioration and destruction. The "Save Our Ships" web site seeks to help preserve our national maritime heritage by offering a short teacher's manual with lesson plans, as well as a special online exhibit, looking at the history of the five ships featured in The History Channel's documentary, "Save Our History: Save Our Ships."
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