New 3D Model Released: Wreck of Rotarian (aka A. Wehrle Jr.)
We’re pleased to announce the release of a detailed 3D photogrammetric model of the Rotarian (originally registered as A. Wehrle Jr.), a wooden sidewheel barge scuttled in 1931 and now resting at 84 feet in Lake Michigan off Chicago. This model was produced as part of an ongoing digital documentation effort of historically significant Great Lakes shipwrecks.
Wreck Site Summary
- Location: Lake Michigan, Illinois waters
- Coordinates: 41° 57.013′ N, 087° 26.076′ W
- Depth: 84 ft (25.6 m)
- Site Condition: Collapsed hull with prominent boiler base, rudder, and deck sections intact. Portions of walking beam base and sidewheel shaft supports are visible.
- Full wreck profile: Shotline Diving – Rotarian
About the Vessel
- Name(s): Rotarian, formerly A. Wehrle Jr.
- Official Number: 106652 (U.S.)
- Built: 1889, Sandusky, Ohio
- Length: 148 ft × 26.5 ft × 9 ft
- Type: Wooden sidewheeler (later barge)
- Loss Date: Scuttled 28 September 1931
- Historic data: Great Lakes Ships | Double Action Dive Charters
3D Model Highlights
Imaging & Modeling Details
- Photographer: Andrew Goodman
- Date Captured: June 2025
- Modeler: Ken Merryman
- Date Completed: August 2025
- Capture Time: 40 minutes
- Modeling Time: ~3 hours
This model contributes to public education and historic preservation of Great Lakes shipwrecks. To explore other virtual wrecks, visit 3DShipwrecks.org.