Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks

Canadian Shipwrecks, Great Lakes, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks

North American Shipwrecks, Great Lakes, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks

American Shipwrecks, Great Lakes, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks

Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks

Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks

Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks

 

Return to Northern Maritime Research      

 

Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes

    The Great Lakes are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes spanning the Canada-United States border including Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior plus Lake St. Clair. The Great Lakes Waterway enables shipping by water amongst the lakes and connecting to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River, and to the Mississippi River basin through the Illinois Waterway.

   Large and prone to sudden storms with many dangerous islands and reefs, thousands of vessels have been lost throughout the Great Lakes since the GRIFFIN (GRIFFON?) in 1679. Here are a few of those lost.

1679.09.18 - GRIFFIN - French gunboat - 75 ton - lost near Tobermory, ON.
1721.07.02 - LE JEAN FLORIN - French frigate - foundered off Erie, PA.
1764.06.17 - LE BLANC HENRY - French frigate - foundered off Kingston, ON.
1783.11.23 - ONTARIO - Brit. sloop - 100 ton - lost off Oswego, Lake Ontario, NY.
1793.12.18 - ONONDAGA (HMS) - Brit. gunboa ton - 100 ton - wrecked at Toronto, ON.
1804.10.08 - SPEEDY (HMS) - Brit. schnr - missing off Lakeport, Lake Ontario, ON.
1813.08.08 - HAMILTON - Am. gunboat - 76 ton - squall off Port Dalhousie, ON.
1813.08.08 - SCOURGE - Am. gunboat - 50 ton - foundered off Port Dalhousie, ON.
1821.11.01 - WALK IN THE WATER - Am. paddle-wheeler - 338 ton - ashore at Point Abino
1833.10.09 - GEORGE WASHINGTON - Am. paddle-wheeler - 605 ton - ashore on Long Point
1841.08.09 - ERIE - Am. paddle-wheeler - 497 ton - explosion off Silver Creek, NY.
1852.08.20 - ATLANTIC - Am. paddle-wheeler - 1,155 ton - collision in Long Point
1854.12.08 - WESTMORELAND - Am. steamer - 665 ton - foundered off Sleeping Bear Point
1856.09.24 - NIAGARA - Am. paddle-wheeler - 1,099 ton - lost near Racine, WI.
1856.10.24 - TOLEDO - Am. steamer - 585 ton - foundered off Port Washington, WI.
1856.10.29 - SUPERIOR - Am. paddle-wheeler - 567 ton - sank near Grand Island, MI.
1862.11.--   - BLACK HAWK - Am. brig - lost off Frankfort, Lake Michigan
1863.08.28 - SUNBEAM - Am. paddle-wheeler - 398 ton - missing off Eagle Harbor, MI.
1865.08.12 - PEWABIC - Cdn. cargo - 960 ton - collision off Thunder Bay I., MI.
1868.04.09 - SEA BIRD - Am. paddle-wheeler - 638 ton - lost off Waukegan, IL.
1877.07.25 - CUMBERLAND - Cdn. paddle-wheeler - 418 ton - stranded at Isle Royale, MI.
1883.11.16 - MANISTEE - Am. steamer - 677 ton - lost off Keweenaw Peninsula, MI.
1885.11.07 - ALGOMA - Cdn. steamer - 1,773 ton - stranded at Isle Royale, MI.
1887.10.29 - VERNON - Am. steamer - 695 ton - foundered off Manitowoc, WI.
1888.05.30 - MAGGIE MCRAE - Cdn. cargo - 329 ton - foundered in ice at Thunder Bay
1889.07.13 - SMITH MOORE - Am. cargo - 1,191 ton - lost off Munising, MI.
1889.09.12 - ROTHESAY - Cdn. paddle-wheeler - 839 ton - collision near Prescott, ON.
1893.10.14 - DEAN RICHMOND - Am. cargo - 1,432 ton - foundered off Dunkirk, NY.
1895.01.21 - CHICORA - Am. liner - 1,123 ton - missing off St. Joseph, MI.
1907.10.11 - CYPRUS - Am. cargo - 4,900 ton - foundered near Big Two-Hearted River
1909.12.08 - MARQUETTE & BESSEMER #2 - Am. ferry - 3,818 ton - lost off Conneaut, OH.
1909.12.08 - CLARION - Am. cargo - 1,712 ton - lost off Point Pelee, Lake Erie
1911.08.11 - GUNILDA - Am. steam yach ton - 385 ton - stranded at Nipigon Bay, ON.
1913.11.08 - JAMES C. CARRUTHERS - Cdn. cargo - 7,862 ton - missing off Goderich, ON.
1913.11.08 - WEXFORD - Cdn. cargo - 2,104 ton - missing off Sarnia, ON.
1913.11.09 - ARGUS - Am. cargo - 4,707 ton - missing on Lake Huron
1913.11.09 - CHARLES S. PRICE - Am. cargo - 6,322 ton - missing off Port Sanilac, MI.
1913.11.09 - HENRY B. SMITH - Am. cargo - 6,631 ton - missing off Marquette, MI.
1913.11.09 - HYDRUS - Am. cargo - 4,714 ton - missing off Lexington, MI.
1913.11.09 - ISAAC M. SCOTT - Am. cargo - 6,372 ton - missing off Port Elgin, ON.
1913.11.09 - JOHN A. MCGEAN - Am. cargo - 5,100 ton - missing off Port Sanilac, MI.
1913.11.09 - LEAFIELD - Cdn. cargo - 1,453 ton - missing off Thunder Bay, ON.
1913.11.09 - REGINA - Cdn. cargo - 1,927 ton - missing off Port Sanilac, MI.
1914.04.28 - BENJAMIN B. NOBLE - Am. cargo - 1,481 ton - sank off Duluth, MN.
1915.07.24 - EASTLAND - Am. liner - 1,961 ton - capsized at Chicago, IL.
1924.12.03 - LAKELAND - Am. liner - 2,425 ton - foundered in Sturgeon Bay, WI.
1927.12.08 - KAMLOOPS - Cdn. cargo - 2,302 ton - sank near Isle Royale, MI.
1929.10.29 - WISCONSIN - Am. cargo - 1,921 ton - sank in Kenosha, WI.
1934.11.30 - HENRY CORT - Am. cargo - 2,234 ton - ashore near Muskegon, MI.
1947.09.24 - MILVERTON - Cdn. cargo - fire near Morrsiburg, ON.
1949.09.17 - NORONIC - Cdn. liner - 6,905 ton - caught fire at Toronto, ON.
1953.05.11 - HENRY STEINBRENNER - Am. cargo - 4,345 ton - foundered off Isle Royale
1966.11.19 - NORDMEER - German cargo - 8,683 ton - stranded off Alpena, MI.
1975.11.10 - EDMUND FITZGERALD - Am. cargo - 13,632 ton - lost off Whitefish Bay

                                                                                                            © 2025 Northern Maritime Research
Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks
Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Georgian Bay, St. Lawrence River, Canada, United States, US., Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana Shipwrecks, Northern Shipwrecks Database, Northern Maritime Research, Disasters At Sea, famous shipwrecks, treasure wrecks