Identification & Site Information

• Name: Birmingham

• Former Names: None recorded

• Date Built: 1843

• Place Built: Vermillion, Ohio

• Material: Wooden

• Dimensions: Tonnage 138 tons

• Final Resting Place: Potentially Horseshoe Reef, Buffalo Harbor, Lake Erie

• Date Lost: December 4, 1854

Description

The Birmingham was a wooden Schooner built in Vermillion, Ohio, during a time of significant maritime commerce on the Great Lakes. Designed to transport cargo, particularly coal, the vessel served as a critical link in the region’s shipping network. Its 138-ton frame was typical of schooners navigating Lake Erie.

In its operational life, the Birmingham enrolled in Sandusky, Ohio, and later in Buffalo, New York. The vessel encountered numerous challenges, including an incident on April 8, 1851, where it went ashore in a storm at Port Burwell, Lake Erie. It survived that ordeal, unlike some vessels like the Atalanta, which were lost in the same storm.

Final Disposition

On December 4, 1854, during a severe snowstorm, the Birmingham ran aground on Horseshoe Reef near Buffalo Harbor. Reports conflict regarding its ultimate fate. Some suggest the Schooner was salvaged, while others argue it succumbed to the damage sustained from the storm and reef. No loss of life was reported in the incident, and the financial loss was approximately $4,000—a significant amount for the era.

Located By & Date Found

There is no definitive confirmation of the Birmingham’s wreckage location. Its likely site is on Horseshoe Reef, but further exploration and verification are needed.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No modern navigational markers or official advisories identify the wreck of the Birmingham, making it a potential target for further archaeological surveys. The area’s shallow reef system presents challenges and risks to exploration.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Ships Database

• David Swayze Shipwreck File

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• Historical newspapers, such as the Buffalo Morning Express (April 1851)

• Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society

• Maritime archaeological assessments and local dive groups .

Suggested Keywords and Categories

• Great Lakes Shipwrecks

• Birmingham Schooner

• Lake Erie Maritime History

• Horseshoe Reef Wreck

• 19th-Century Shipping Vessels

• Maritime Archaeology