10 Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Throughout the Industrial Revolution, the Great Lakes were pivotal to transporting goods, commodities, and other resources produced in interior regions of North America.

Ships laden with all sorts of cargo could often be seen sailing on Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and Lake Michigan, the five water bodies that make up the Great Lakes. Situated on the Canada-U.S. border, they are the world’s biggest group of freshwater lakes in terms of area.

Ships carrying lumber, grains, iron ore, fish, etc., encountered harsh weather and strong winds and sank, which is why there are around 25,000 shipwrecks in the region, of which about 500 are in Lake Superior. Because of the fascinating stories behind their sinking, some shipwrecks in the Great Lakes are now popular diving destinations.

Though most sunken ships have not been discovered, those found have been the centre of attention since they’re part of the region’s maritime and cultural history. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum was established as an educational memorial to these shipwrecks.

Many lighthouses were also built to aid safe navigation in the Great Lakes. For instance, the Split Rock Lighthouse was constructed in 1905.

Let us have a look at the 10 most popular Great Lakes Shipwrecks.

 1. Le Griffon

Le Griffon, a 17th-century barque, is one of the greatest mysteries of the Great Lakes. She went missing in Lake Michigan in 1679 with a crew of six. Le Griffon is believed to be the first full-sized sailing ship to have traversed the upper reaches of the Great Lakes of North America.

Over twenty claims have been made regarding its discovery in the past, with most having been proven wrong. Built by French explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, Le Griffon reached an island in Lake Michigan in 1679 after crossing Lake Erie and Lake Huron. Local tribes had gathered to trade with the French, and after the transactions, the ship headed back.

However, during its return trip from the island to Niagara, the vessel went missing in an area now known as Green Bay.

In 2001, a famous Great Lakes shipwreck hunter, Steve Libert, claimed her wreck in Northern Lake Michigan near Poverty Island. Similarly, in 2014, treasure hunters Kevin Dykstra and Frederick J. Monroe claimed the discovery of the wreck near Frankfort, Michigan.

Edmund Fitzgerald

The saga of the Edmund Fitzgerald is one of the most popularly recounted Great Lake shipwreck anecdotes. Launched in 1958, Fitzgerald was the largest ship on the Great Lakes for 13 years until 1971.

The American Great Lakes freighter was fatally wrecked on Lake Superior during the winter of 1975, with all her crew losing their lives.

The vessel was caught in a severe storm while travelling from Superior, Wisconsin, to a steel mill near Detroit and sank in Canadian waters. The exact cause of the sinking, with no outward signs of severe damage, is still heavily debated. The prominent theories include the vessel running aground or suffering damage during the storm.

A U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft discovered the wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald in November 1975, 15 miles west of Deadman’s Cove, Ontario. A noteworthy find from the wreckage remains the vessel’s gong, now proudly exhibited in the Shipwreck Museum, dedicated to Great Lakes casualties and wrecks.

Carl D. Bradley

SS Carl D. Bradley, a Great Lakes freighter, was built in 1927 and was popularly known as the “Queen of the Lakes” because it was the longest and largest freighter on the Great Lakes at the time.

She was built by American Shipbuilding, based in Ohio.

This self-unloading freighter, operated by Bradley Transportation, was used as both an icebreaker and a freighter. In 1957, she collided with another vessel, the MV White Rose, causing damage to her hull.

The following year, the vessel ran aground multiple times, but these occurrences were never reported to the authorities. She was caught in a storm in November of the same year and sank in Lake Michigan, killing 33 of the 35 crew members.

The vessel’s sinking was caused by structural damage caused by the poor choice of steel used in its construction. The wreck of Carl D. Bradley, lying 360 feet under the water, was discovered in 1959 by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Fedora

The 282-foot-long bulk carrier Fedora was one of the larger classes of freighters during the late 19th century. Unfortunately, the vessel was involved in a fire accident in 1901 when she was en route to Ashland from Duluth to bring iron ore. This journey was similar to the one undertaken by the ill-fated Edmund Fitzgerald.

One of the stoutest vessels built at its time, the Fedora met its unprecedented fate when a fire broke out in its engine cabin. Though none of the crew aboard the vessel lost their lives, the Fedora soon became a lost cause as it burned and eventually sank into the waters of Chicago Creek in Buffalo Bay.

The Great Lake shipwreck of the vessel Fedora lies in the depths of Lake Superior. Salvage operations were conducted in November 1901, and essential machinery was recovered for further use. The charred hull is a dangerous diving and boating site since portions of the vessel reach the surface and can damage other ships.

John B. Cowle

Part of the class of Great Lakes bulk freighters known as “tin pans,” the 7-year-old SS John B. Cowle sank in 1909 to a freak disaster involving the newly christened freighter SS Isaac M Scott. John B. Cowle was fatally wrecked in a collision with another, killing 14 of the 24 crew members aboard.

Thick sheets of fog prevented clear visibility, which led to the collision. However, the colliding vessel saved many surviving members from the wrecked Cowle ship.

The wreck of John B. Cowle was discovered in 1972 and is among the most remarkable and well-preserved wrecks in Lake Superior. The surviving crew members were rescued by SS Scott, which resulted in fewer deaths than estimated.

SS John B Cowle was involved in other minor accidents, including a collision with SS Erin, that resulted in the death of a few crew members working on the Erin at that time.

She was built by Jenks Shipbuilding and was operated by the Cowle Transportation Company.

Vienna

Lost forever to the waters of Lake Superior, the steamship Vienna went down fatally in September 1892 after colliding with another steamship coming from the opposite direction.

Built in 1873, Vienna witnessed a series of accidents during her 19-year career. It sank three years after her launch. Both Vienna and Nipigon vessels were heavy with iron ore cargo during the accident. It is supposed that the multiple repairs on her hull due to the numerous accidents she was a part of contributed to a weakened structure that easily broke apart on collision with the Nipigon.

Though the other vessel tried to tug Vienna to safety, the shoals prevented a successful rescue operation. Owing to swift action by the Nipigon, no lives were lost. At the time, a schooner, the Mattie C Bell, was towed by Vienna while heavily laden with iron ore. The Bell survived the sinking.

The wreck of Vienna was discovered in 1975, lying 120 to 148 feet under the water.

The remains of Vienna lie in Whitefish Bay, a famous diving site. However, after four scuba divers died, the area became protected and restricted. Vienna is presently part of an Underwater Preserve created by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which has strict regulations on artefacts brought up by divers.

Lady Elgin

Lady Elgin, a wooden-hulled steamship, was built in 1851 and served on the Great Lakes as a passenger ship. On September 6, 1860, while returning from Chicago with Milwaukee’s Union Guard members after attending a campaign speech by Stephen A., the vessel sank in an unfortunate accident.

The 252-foot Lady Elgin faced a strong gale and was rammed by the schooner Augusta of Oswego. Unfortunately, due to the damages caused by the collision, the vessel sank sometime later, resulting in the death of more than 300 people.

Though the exact number remains unknown since the manifest was lost during the accident, it remains one of the worst shipwrecks in the region.

In 1989, Harry Zych discovered the wreck of the Lady Elgin off Highwood, Illinois. Despite her eligibility, the owner objected, so she is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago has catalogued the wreck site of Lady Elgin, which has debris spread across four sites lying at depths of 50-60 feet.

Records obtained from subsequent investigations note how the other vessel misjudged the distance between them, resulting in the fatal collision.

Samuel Mather

The SS Samuel Mather is another example of two vessels colliding in the perilous waters of Whitefish Bay on the US-Canada border. While shipping wheat from the port of Duluth, Samuel Mather collided with a steamer- Brazil, early in the morning of November 1981 due to thick fog along Lake Superior.

The entire crew of Samuel Mather was safely rescued by the steamer Brazil. Currently, the Mather’s wreck lies in 180 feet of water, 18 miles from the harbour at Whitefish Point. Samuel Mather is one of the most important exploratory and diving sites for enthusiasts, especially because of its location. She is also nearly intact, providing divers with a chance to explore the wreck safely without fear of injury.

The Whitefish Point Underwater Reserve manages the wreck site, and artefacts are displayed at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.

However, there have been repeated attempts to steal the artefacts, and Michigan State owns them.

Prins Willem V

The 258-foot freighter Prins Willem V sank in Lake Michigan in October 1964 after sailing between Europe and the United States for the Orange Line years since 1949.

Constructed by the Van Vlier Company, the Prins had survived a Nazi bombing attempt and was refitted for commercial use in 1949.

The Dutch freighter capsized three miles off Milwaukee Harbor after colliding with a barge of the Sinclair Oil Company. All crew members aboard the vessel were rescued.

Following the accident, many attempts were made to raise the vessel in 1958, 1961, and some after 1965, but all failed.

Today, the wreck is owned and operated by Wisconsin State and is a prominent diving site.

Resting intact on its starboard side at about 80ft, the wreck of Prins Willem V, known as the “Willie”, is one of the most popular wrecks in Milwaukee.

John M. Osborn

The final vessel in this list of Great Lakes Shipwrecks is the wooden steam barge John M. Osborn, which was wrecked at Whitefish Point in 1884. Built by the Morley and Hill Company of Michigan, she was operated by the Cleveland Iron Mining Company.

Like many of the aforementioned vessels, hazy and misty conditions prevented the know-how of navigating around an approaching vessel, causing both the John M. Osborn and the steel-hulled Alberta to collide, with the Osborn being wrecked fatally.

A few crew members lost their lives in the accident. The wreck of John M. Osborn was discovered 100 years after the accident, in 1984, lying in 165 feet of water in Whitefish Bay of Lake Superior.

You might also like to read:

• 15 Famous Shipwrecks in the World
• 6 Latest Shipwrecks Found Around the World
• 11 Books On Shipwreck And Maritime Archaeology You Might Be Interested In

About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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