Kohler-Andrae's landscape is an interesting mix of river marsh, pine and hardwood forests, long beaches and beautiful sand dunes overlooking one of the largest bodies of fresh water on earth- Lake Michigan. Looking at Lake Michigan today, you might think that this huge lake was always here, but it wasn't. Only during the last two million years when the Ice Age began, did this lake begin to take shape. Lake Michigan was affected by at least four Ice Age glaciers. The last Wisconsin glacier gouged out the present day Lake Michigan basin.

Lake Michigan has a long and interesting marine history including many shipwrecks. In the Kohler-Andrae area alone over 50 vessels have sunk including an 87 foot schooner called the "Challenge". The "Challenge" was built in Manitowoc in 1852 and was a historic sailing vessel because it was the first centerboard "clipper" type schooner. In 1982 a section of this ship's keel washed to shore here at Kohler-Andrae and is now on display outside the Sanderling Nature Center.