New 3D Shipwreck Model: Schooner Kate Kelly (1867) — Wind Point, Wisconsin

3D photogrammetry model of Kate Kelly — © 3DShipwrecks.org

The 3DShipwrecks.org project has just added a detailed 3D model of the schooner Kate Kelly, one of Lake Michigan’s most frequently visited wreck sites. The model can be explored at 3DShipwrecks.org.

About the Vessel

Built in 1867 at Tonawanda, New York, the Kate Kelly was a two-masted wooden schooner measuring 126 ft (38.4 m) in length. During its 28-year service life, it carried a wide variety of cargoes around the Great Lakes — including lumber, grain, and iron products. Known for a long series of mishaps and repairs, the schooner was eventually sold at auction in 1877 as repair costs mounted. By the 1890s, aging hull leaks restricted her primarily to lumber trade routes.

Loss of the Kate Kelly

In May 1895, while bound from Alpena, Michigan to Chicago with a cargo of hemlock railroad ties, the vessel encountered a violent spring storm off Wind Point Light near Racine, Wisconsin. The schooner capsized and sank with the loss of her cargo. No lives were reported lost, and the wreck now rests in approximately 55 ft (17 m) of water.

3D Model and Imaging

The Kate Kelly 3D photogrammetry model was produced from 1,945 high-resolution (30 MP) underwater images captured by Andrew Goodman with field support from Kendra Kennedy during a joint Wisconsin Historical Society and GLSPS documentation project. The resulting model provides a full-site view of the hull, spars, and surrounding lakebed.

👉 Explore the interactive model here: 3DShipwrecks.org — Kate Kelly

Dive Site Information

Today, the Kate Kelly is a popular Wisconsin dive destination, located roughly two miles off Wind Point. Visibility averages 20–40 ft (6–12 m) depending on season. The site features well-preserved lower hull sections and scattered deck structure.

Credits

3D Photogrammetry: Andrew Goodman
Project Support: Kendra Kennedy
Partnership: Wisconsin Historical Society & Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society (GLSPS)

Shotline Diving