Located in the Southwest Gulf of Maine, the coastal waters of Massachusetts Bay and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary contain hundreds of shipwrecks. This diverse area reflects a history that includes the pillars of the New England’s ocean economy, commerce and fishing. The waters off Boston also contain shipwrecks amassing one of the largest artificial reef areas in the United States due to the 1930’s-era Works Progress Administration, which provided for employment during the Great Depression and clean-up of Boston’s waterfront. Today, shipwrecks ranging from coal schooners to tug boats to freighters and fishing vessels can be visited by recreational and technical divers alike.