Connecting the Wrecks: A Case Study in Conveying the Importance of Submerged Cultural Heritage Through a Scaled Outreach Approach

As an essential component of its mission, the Naval History & Heritage Command’s Underwater Archaeology Branch has developed a multifaceted and scaled public education and outreach strategy based on a combination of initiatives aimed at creating both direct connections with individuals on personal level, as well as broad connections with the public at large. This chapter is intended to serve as a case study, illustrating how an outreach strategy based on the aforementioned framework is employed, taking into account the organization’s available resources, limited staff numbers, and complex scope. The authors endeavor to convey the importance of crafting an organization’s message to create the most relevant form of outreach according to the medium, the audience, and their frame of reference, in order to best inspire and enhance public appreciation for submerged cultural heritage.