Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Maritime Heritage

Great Lakes Maritime
Heritage Center

Shipwrecks

Maritime History

Vessel Data

GPS numbers in red are updated and the most recent numbers from the Institute for Exploration's survey done in late June 2001.

Name	E.B. ALLEN (false CORSICAN)
Official Number	7818
Date Built	1864 by H.C. Piersons at Ogdensburg, NY
Date Lost	September or November 18 or 20, 1871
Type	Wooden schooner
Dimensions	111 or 136
Gross Tonnage	275
Cargo	Grain
Circumstances	Collided with the bark NEWSBOY in a thick fog, 2 miles southeast of Thunder Bay Island
Depth	100-110 ft
Condition	Excellent. She is sitting on her keel, with a gash from the collision visible on the port side. Hull, railing, flooring intact. Windlass, anchor chains, and rudder in place. Mast broken off. Originally identified as the CORSICAN when discovered in early 1970s.
Location	GPS: 45.01.00/83.09.860 Lat/Lon: 45 00.95/83 09.898 Loran C: 30811.6 / 48693.1
Sources	Hoagman 1999, MSU 1975, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Name	JOHN J. AUDUBON
Official Number	None
Date Built	1854 by G&W Jones at Black River, OH
Date Lost	October 20, 1854
Type	Wooden 2-mast brig
Dimensions	?
Gross Tonnage	370
Cargo	Railroad iron
Circumstances	Bound Buffalo for Chicago, struck amidships by schooner DEFIANCE on a dark, foggy night and was almost cut in half.
Depth	?
Condition	Unknown
Location	North of Middle Island. Coordinates not available.
Sources	Bedford 2000; Swayze 1999.

Name	BARGE NO. 1
Official Number	67313
Date Built	1895 by James Davidson at West Bay City, MI Hull #70
Date Lost	November 8, 1918
Type	Wooden schooner-barge; used as a RR car ferry.
Dimensions	310 x 44 x 12
Gross Tonnage	1544
Cargo	Lumber, chickens
Circumstances	Grounded in a storm, broke in two and sank. Located 1 mile off tip of North Point, 6.7 miles from Alpena marina.
Depth	45 ft
Condition	Remains spread over bottom with sidewalls and planking present, steering quadrant at stern.
Location	GPS: 45.00.84 / 83.18.08 Loran C: 30865.0 / 48680.8
Sources	Hoagman 1999, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Name	BARGE NO. 83
Official Number	?
Date Built	?
Date Lost	October 26, 1941
Type	Wooden scow-barge
Dimensions	200 x 50 estimated
Gross Tonnage	365
Cargo	?
Circumstances	Foundered approx. 5.25 mi north-northeast of north end of Thunder Bay Island.
Depth	70 ft estimated
Condition	?
Location	Lat/Lon: 45° 04' 45" / 83° 05' 30"
Sources	MSU 1975, Swayze 1999.

Name	B.W. BLANCHARD
Official Number	2806
Date Built	1870 by J. Martin at Cleveland, OH
Date Lost	November 28 or 29, 1904
Type	Wooden propeller, bulk freight
Dimensions	212 x 32 x 12
Gross Tonnage	1143
Cargo	Lumber, 2-barge tow
Circumstances	Grounded on North Point Reef in a gale with barges JOHN KILDERHOUSE and JOHN T. JOHNSON in tow. Broke in half and sank.
Depth	15 ft
Condition	Boiler recovered a few days after sinking. Large steel anchor present. Remains are intermixed with several other wrecks located at North Point, including GALENA and JOHN T. JOHNSON.
Location	GPS: 45.00.46 / 83.14.99 Loran C: 30846.3 / 48688.4
Sources	Hoagman 1999, McConnell 1999, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Name	KATE L. BRUCE
Official Number	14277
Date Built	1872 by Hanson & Scove at Manitowoc, WI
Date Lost	November 8, 1877
Type	Wooden 3-masted schooner
Dimensions	?
Gross Tonnage	307
Cargo	Wheat
Circumstances	In tow of tug JOHNSON before being let go. Disappeared in heavy weather with loss of all 8 crew members. Last seen off 40-Mile Point. Lifeboat washed up near Thunder Bay Light. May have collided with another unknown vessel and both sank. Bureau containing the ship's papers washed up in August 1878.
Depth	?
Condition	?
Location	Off Alpena. Wreck was discovered in fall 1879 in six fathoms, but location has apparently been lost as no additional records could be found.
Sources	Swayze 1999.

Name	CHEBOYGAN
Official Number	?
Date Built	?
Date Lost	?
Type	Wooden steamer
Dimensions	235 x 45
Gross Tonnage	?
Cargo	Limestone
Circumstances	Fire. Located approx. 1 mi from shore on southern edge of North Point.
Depth	40 ft
Condition	Intact. Ribs and sidewall holding cargo. Prop cables and pulleys on board.
Location	Lat/Lon: 45° 01' 40" / 83° 20' 50"
Sources	Bedford 2000; MSU 1975.

Name	JAMES DAVIDSON
Official Number	75786
Date Built	1874 by James Davidson at West Bay City, MI
Date Lost	October 4, 1883
Type	Wooden propeller, bulk freight
Dimensions	231 x 37 x 19
Gross Tonnage	1456
Cargo	Coal
Circumstances	Towing barge MIDDLESEX, bound Buffalo for Duluth or Chicago. Drove up on a reef about 0.5 mi from Thunder Bay Island Light. Broke up and sank over the next few days.
Depth	70 ft
Condition	Ribs intact with some wall planking.
Location	Lat/Lon: 45° 02' 20" / 83° 10' 50"
Sources	MSU 1975, Swayze 1999.

Name	DEFIANCE
Official Number
Date Built
Date Lost	October 20, 1854
Type	Wooden schooner
Dimensions
Gross Tonnage
Cargo
Circumstances	Collided with schooner JOHN J. AUDUBON on a dark, foggy night.
Depth
Condition	Excellent.
Location	Off Middle Island. No coordinates available.
Sources	See website.

Name	OSCAR T. FLINT
Official Number	155165
Date Built	1889 by Simon Langell at St. Clair, MI
Date Lost	November 24 or 25, 1909
Type	Wooden propeller, bulk freight
Dimensions	218 x 37 x 14
Gross Tonnage	824
Cargo	Limestone
Circumstances	Caught fire just after leaving Alpena. Run into shoal waters to save crew. Burned to waterline. Located 4 mi east of mouth of Thunder Bay River, 1 mi offshore.
Depth	33 ft
Condition	Large part of hull intact. Limestone cargo, two woodstock anchors, windlass, and many ship ports present. Boiler collapsed, prop lying nearby.
Location	GPS: 45.01.45 / 83.20.76 Lat/Lon: 45°01'33"/83°20'48" Loran C: 30879.8 / 48671.9
Sources	Hoagman 1999, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Name	GALENA
Official Number	10148
Date Built	1857 by Luther Moses at Cleveland, OH
Date Lost	September 25, 1872
Type	Wooden propeller, passenger & package freight
Dimensions	193 x 30 x 12
Gross Tonnage	709
Cargo	?
Circumstances	Stranded near North Point and broke up with all hands lost. Bound Alpena for Chicago.
Depth	15 ft
Condition	Remains intermixed with several other wrecks; see also BLANCHARD and JOHN T. JOHNSON.
Location	GPS: 45.00.46 / 83.14.99 Loran C: 30846.3 / 48688.4
Sources	Hoagman 1999, McConnell 1999, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Name	NELLIE GARDNER (formerly identified as MOLLY T. HORNER, but HORNER is not on official lists and sources now indicate the wreck is the GARDNER)
Official Number	18777
Date Built	1873 by D. Lester at Marine City, MI
Date Lost	October 14, 1883
Type	Wooden schooner-barge, bulk freight
Dimensions	178
Gross Tonnage	567
Cargo	Corn
Circumstances	In tow of steamer JOHN PRIDGEON, JR. Released in heavy weather to run for Thunder Bay under sail. Unable to make it, she turned back for Tawas but struck a reef, broke in two, and wrecked. Located 1 mi southeast of Scarecrow Island. Crew escaped in yawl.
Depth	20 ft
Condition	Good. Ribs, sidewalls, some flooring and railings intact.
Location	Lat/Lon: 44° 53' 55" / 83° 19' 50" Loran C 30893.7 / 48737.9
Sources	Hoagman 1999, MSU 1975, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999.

Name	W. H. GILBERT
Official Number	81382
Date Built	1892 by F. Wheeler at West Bay City, MI, Hull #89
Date Lost	May 22, 1914
Type	Steel propeller, bulk freight
Dimensions	328 x 42 x 20
Gross Tonnage	2820
Cargo	?
Circumstances	Collided with steamer CALDERA in a fog and sank quickly. Was struck amidships ad nearly cut in two.
Depth	200 ft
Condition	Wreckage discovered by divers in 1983. Condition unknown.
Location	Cordinates not available.
Sources	Hoagman 1999, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999.

Name	GRECIAN (follow link for full story and photo)
Official Number	86136
Date Built	1891 by Globe Iron Works at Cleveland, OH
Date Lost	June 15, 1906
Type	Steel propeller, bulk freight
Dimensions	296 x 40.4 x 21.1
Gross Tonnage	2348
Cargo	Light
Circumstances	Foundered 2 miles south of Thunder Bay Island while being towed to Detroit for repairs. Was relying on air pressure in sealed holds to stay afloat, but they filled and she sank.
Depth	110 ft (deck at 70-75 ft)
Condition	Excellent. Broken amidships with forward deck collapsed due to salvage attempts. 3 stern levels intact and penetrable. Engine, boilers, prop intact. Windlass, chain, capstan, and 3 anchors in place. Also many pulleys, side rails, tools, etc. present. UPDATE: Capt. Lee Barnhill of Thunder Bay Divers reports that the GRECIAN's stern is collapsing.
Location	GPS: 44.58.108/83.12.011 Lat/Lon: Loran C: 30832.7 / 48713.3
Sources	Hoagman 1999, MSU 1975, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Name	D.R. HANNA
Official Number	203676
Date Built	1906 by American Ship Building Co. at Lorain, OH Hull #346
Date Lost	May 16, 1919
Type	Steel propeller, bulk freight
Dimensions	532 x 56 x 31
Gross Tonnage	7023
Cargo	Grain
Circumstances	Collided with steel steamer QUINCY A. SHAW, capsized and foundered. At the time, she was one of the largest vessels lost on the Lakes and the largest monetary loss ever. Crew rescued by SHAW. Located approx. 6.5 mi north-northeast of Thunder Bay Island Light.
Depth	130-135 ft
Condition	Excellent. Resting upside down with single entrance in bow. Wreck located in Oct. 1919 but no salvage ever attempted because of position and depth.
Location	GPS: 45. 05. 066 / 83. 05. 15 Loran C: 30771.3 / 48666.4
Sources	Hoagman 1999, MSU 1975, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999.

Name	JOHNSON, JOHN T.
Official Number	75556
Date Built	1873 by Squires at Huron, OH
Date Lost	November 28, 1904
Type	Wooden 2-masted schooner-barge
Dimensions	171 x 31 x 11
Gross Tonnage	448
Cargo	Lumber
Circumstances	In tow of steamer B.W. BLANCHARD. Tore loose and ran aground on North Point Reef in a gale. Bound for Detroit.
Depth	15 ft
Condition	25' x 35' segment remains. May have been salvaged or damaged by ice. Remains intermixed with other wrecks at North Point. See also BLANCHARD and GALENA.
Location	GPS: 45.00.46/ 83.14.99 Lat/Lon:45°01'05"/83°15'50" Loran C: 30846.3 / 48688.4
Sources	MSU 1975, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Name	MONOHANSETT
Official Number	?
Date Built	1872 by Linn and Craig at Gilbralter, MI as the IRA H. OWEN, renamed in 1882
Date Lost	November 23, 1907
Type	Wooden propeller, bulk freight
Dimensions	165 x 32 x 9
Gross Tonnage	573
Cargo	Coal
Circumstances	Caught fire while inbound for Alpena. Fire visible from the city, about 8 miles away. Sank at southern end of Thunder Bay Island, about 500' from old dock.
Depth	15-25 ft
Condition	Broken into 3 sections. Some sidewalls intact. Large propeller, drive train, gears, boilers present. Excellent visibility and many fish.
Location	GPS: 45.01.89 / 83.11.90 Lat/Lon:45°01'58"/83°11'30" Loran C: 30822.6 / 48681.4
Sources	Hoagman 1999, MSU 1975, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Name	MONROVIA
Official Number	LI ELOF
Date Built	1943 in Scotland, renamed several times (last in 1954)
Date Lost	June 25, 1959
Type	Steel propeller, package freight, under Liberian flag
Dimensions	430
Gross Tonnage	6700
Cargo	Rolled steel and steel plate from Antwerp, Belgium
Circumstances	Collided with freighter ROYALTON in heavy fog. Greek crew rescued by freighter NORMAN W. FOY. Part of cargo later salvaged. Located 13 miles from Thunder Bay Island.
Depth	150 ft
Condition	Upright, largely intact.
Location	GPS: 44.59.012 / 82.55.400 BOW Loran C: 30723.5 / 48728.9
Sources	Bedford 2000; Hoagman 1999, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999.

Name	MONTANA
Official Number	90501
Date Built	1872 by Muir and Livingstone (or A. Smith) at Port Huron, MI
Date Lost	September 6, 1914
Type	Wooden propeller, package freight
Dimensions	236 x 36 x 14
Gross Tonnage	1536
Cargo	Stone (lumber?)
Circumstances	Caught fire and burned to waterline. Located in shipping channel approx. 1 mi west of nine mile buoy.
Depth	70-75 ft (engine at 30 ft)
Condition	Excellent. Bow section broken off. Engine intact and upright. Boiler, 12' propeller, windlass, anchor chain, capstan, and rudder in place.
Location	GPS: 44.59.04 / 83.16.00 Lat/Lon: 44°59'15"/83°17'13" Loran C: 30855.9 / 48699.9
Sources	Hoagman 1999, MSU 1975, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers.

Name	NEW ORLEANS (follow link for full story)
Official Number	none
Date Built	1844 by B.F. Goodson at Detroit, MI
Date Lost	June 11, 1849
Type	Wooden sidewheel steamer, passenger & package freight
Dimensions	185 x 27 x 13
Gross Tonnage	610
Cargo	Passengers
Circumstances	Ran aground in heavy fog between North Point and Sugar Island. Passengers and crew escaped by boat to Thunder Bay Island.
Depth	15 ft
Condition	?
Location	GPS: 45.02.47 / 83.14.24 Loran C: 30836.2 / 48673.1
Sources	Hoagman 1999, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Name	NEW ORLEANS
Official Number	130333
Date Built	1885 by Morely and Hill at Marine City, MI
Date Lost	June 30, 1906
Type	Wooden propeller, bulk freight
Dimensions	232 x 38 x 14
Gross Tonnage	1457
Cargo	Coal
Circumstances	Collided with steamer WILLIAM R. LINN in heavy fog and sank. Most of crew boarded LINN when the vessels were "stuck together." Located 10 mi from Thunder Bay Island Light.
Depth	150-200 ft (145 to deck)
Condition	Generally intact but broken in the center and split at the coal bunker.
Location	GPS: 45° 10.069 / 83° 12.923" Loran C: 30808.0 / 48613.7
Sources	Hoagman 1999, MSU 1975, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999.

Name	NORDMEER
Official Number	German LR525650
Date Built	1954 at Flensburg, Germany
Date Lost	November 19, 1966
Type	German steel propeller, package and bulk freight
Dimensions	470.8 x 60.9 x 28.2
Gross Tonnage	8683
Cargo	990 coils of steel wire
Circumstances	Miscalculated a turn and ran aground 7 miles northeast of Thunder Bay Island. Expected to be recovered, but a big storm a few days later wrecked her bottom. Her crew stayed aboard after the grounding, planning to assist with the recovery, but had to be rescued by Coast Guard helicopter during the storm (which also sank the DANIEL J. MORRELL).
Depth	30 ft bow / 50 ft stern
Condition	Excellent. Bow, center decks above water (but not much left due to ice damage). Salvage barge sank alongside. Most of cargo was salvaged. Wreck is fully penetrable.
Location	GPS: 45.08.07 / 83.09.35 Lat/Lon: 45°08'20"/83°09'25" Loran C: 30790.7 / 48634.7
Sources	Hoagman 1999, MSU 1975, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Name	NORMAN
Official Number	130505
Date Built	1860 by Globe Iron Works at Cleveland, OH
Date Lost	May 30, 1895
Type	Steel propeller, bulk freight
Dimensions	297 x 40 x 21
Gross Tonnage	2304
Cargo	Light
Circumstances	Rammed amidships by the wooden lumber hooker JACK and sank in 3 minutes. Survivors were picked up from life rafts by steamer M. SICKEN. Salvage effort failed to raise her in 1896.
Depth	180 ft
Condition	Wreck located in 1986. Current condition unknown.
Location	4 mi northeast of Middle Island, off Rockport. No coordinates available.
Sources	Bedford 2000; Hoagman 1999, NOAA 1999, Swayze 1999.

Name	PEWABIC (follow link for story of the PEWABIC's salvage)
Official Number	none
Date Built	1863 by Peck & Masters at Cleveland, OH
Date Lost	August 9, 1865
Type	Wooden propeller, passenger & package freight
Dimensions	200 x 31
Gross Tonnage	997
Cargo	Copper ingots, native copper, passengers
Circumstances	Collided almost bows-on with sister ship METEOR in a passing blunder and sank quickly. Loss of life estimated at 125.
Depth	170 ft
Condition	Mostly stripped of cargo and fittings in a long succession of salvage dives since at least 1880. One salvage project in 1897 used dynamite and a diving bell to take thousands of pounds of copper off. Wreck described as pristine in 1917. Current condition unknown.
Location	GPS: 44.57.890/83.06.236
Sources	Bedford 2000; Hoagman 1999, McConnell 1999, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999.

Name	PORTSMOUTH
Official Number	19619
Date Built	1853 by Bidwell & Banta at Buffalo, NY
Date Lost	November 10, 1867
Type	Wooden propeller, bulk freight
Dimensions	176 x 29 x 10
Gross Tonnage	674
Cargo	Pig iron
Circumstances	Ran aground on Middle Island in a storm. Later caught fire and was destroyed.
Depth	15 ft
Condition	Unknown
Location	GPS: 45.11.87 / 83.20.03 Loran C: 30847.6 / 48588.2
Sources	Bedford 2000; Hoagman 1999, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999.

Name	WILLIAM P. REND
Official Number	86026
Date Built	1888 by James Davidson at West Bay City, MI as steamer GEORGE G. HADLEY (renamed 1903)
Date Lost	September 22, 1917
Type	Wooden barge (converted in 1916)
Dimensions	288 x 40 x 24
Gross Tonnage	2323
Cargo	Limestone
Circumstances	Foundered in a storm due east of Huron Portland Cement Co., approx. 2/3 mi offshore.
Depth	35 ft to bottom, wreck at 15-20 ft
Condition	Partial cargo, sidewall and ribs intact. Rudder port, boiler parts, and valves on board. Rudder-cabin walls fallen to side. Poor visibility.
Location	GPS: 45.03.65 / 83.23.54 Lat/Lon:45°03'55"/83°23'30" Loran C: 30891.0 / 48649.5
Sources	Hoagman 1999, MSU 1975, NOAA 1999, Stonehouse 1992, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Name	SCANLON'S BARGE
Official Number	?
Date Built	?
Date Lost	?
Type	Wooden barge or dredge-barge
Dimensions	200 x 50
Gross Tonnage	?
Cargo	Sand
Circumstances	Foundered approx. 2 mi west of southeast tip of North Point (0.5 mi from shore). Known only from remains on the bottom.
Depth	15-20 ft
Condition	Broken in 3 pieces. Crane boom, boiler, steam winches, anchor present.
Location	GPS: 45.02.02 / 83.19.40 Lat/Lon:45°02'/83°20'40" Loran C: 30870.2 / 48669.1
Sources	MSU 1975, NOAA 1999, Swayze 1999, Thunder Bay Divers 1999.

Continued - Part 2

Continued - Part 3

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