Identification & Site Information

• Name: Welcome
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: None (pre-dates official vessel registration systems)
• Date Built and Launched: 1775
• Builder: Constructed at Fort Michilimackinac (present-day Mackinaw City, Michigan)
• Specifications:  Length: 60 ft (18.29 m) Tonnage: 45 tons
• Type: Armed wooden sloop, single-masted
• Date Lost: Fall of 1787 (some sources suggest 1781)
• Place of Loss: Straits of Mackinac, connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron
• Lake: Lake Michigan/Lake Huron (border region)
• Type of Loss: Foundered in a storm
• Loss of Life: Total Loss of all crew
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Unknown

Vessel Type

The Welcome was an armed sloop, a single-masted sailing vessel with a fore-and-aft rig, commonly used in the 18th century for military, trading, and patrol duties. Sloops were prized for their maneuverability, speed, and versatility, making them ideal for navigating the challenging conditions of the Great Lakes, including narrow straits, unpredictable weather, and shifting currents. The Welcome was part of the colonial naval presence on the Great Lakes, serving both defensive and logistical roles.

Description

Built in 1775 at Fort Michilimackinac, the Welcome was one of the earliest recorded armed vessels constructed in the upper Great Lakes. At 60 feet in length and 45 tons, she was relatively small, reflecting the needs of the frontier environment where smaller, agile ships were better suited to patrolling the complex waterways and serving outposts scattered across the region.

Her construction at Fort Michilimackinac indicates a significant military investment, as the fort was a strategic British stronghold following the French and Indian War. The sloop was likely equipped with light armament, possibly including small cannons or swivel guns, intended for defense against rival colonial powers, Indigenous resistance, or potential privateers during the volatile years of the American Revolutionary period.

History

The Welcome served during a transformative era in Great Lakes history, spanning the tail end of British colonial dominance and the early years of American expansion into the region. She was likely used for a combination of military patrols, supply runs between key forts (such as Fort Mackinac and Fort Detroit), and possibly as an escort for merchant vessels navigating the straits.

Her operations would have involved navigating the Straits of Mackinac, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. This region was (and remains) notorious for sudden weather shifts, powerful currents, and rapidly forming storms, which posed significant risks to early wooden vessels with limited navigational aids.

Final Voyage and Loss

In the fall of 1787 (some historical records suggest 1781), the Welcome encountered a severe storm while sailing through the Straits of Mackinac. The vessel Foundered—meaning she sank due to taking on water, likely overwhelmed by high winds, rough seas, or structural failure caused by the storm’s intensity.

Tragically, the entire crew was lost, reflecting both the ferocity of the storm and the limited survival options for mariners in such remote, cold waters during the 18th century. This loss would have had strategic implications, weakening the already stretched supply and patrol lines in the region.

Final Disposition

Parts of the Welcome’s wreckage were eventually recovered and are now preserved at Historic Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City, Michigan. These artifacts serve as tangible connections to the vessel’s history and the broader maritime heritage of the Great Lakes during the colonial and early American periods.

Replica and Modern Legacy

In the 1970s, a replica of the Welcome was constructed by saltwater shipbuilders, intended to commemorate the vessel’s historical significance. However, due to rot and deterioration, the replica was retired after several years of service.

As of 1996, efforts were underway to Rebuild the replica, reflecting ongoing interest in preserving and interpreting the Maritime History of the Great Lakes. Such replicas play an important role in education, allowing historians and the public to engage with the region’s nautical past in a hands-on, experiential way.

Located By & Date Found

• Wreck Site: Some parts of the original vessel were recovered, but it’s unclear if the full wreck has ever been definitively located underwater.
• Artifacts: Preserved at Historic Fort Michilimackinac, Mackinaw City, Michigan.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil – There are no current navigational hazards directly associated with the Welcome’s wreck site in the Straits of Mackinac. However, this area remains a busy maritime corridor, with shifting currents, shoals, and sudden weather changes posing ongoing risks to modern vessels.

Resources & Links

 Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU)
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Mackinac State Historic Parks
• Fort Michilimackinac Archaeological Resources

Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

Keywords: Welcome, armed sloop, Fort Michilimackinac, Straits of Mackinac shipwreck, 18th-century Great Lakes vessels, colonial naval history, early Great Lakes shipbuilding

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, Colonial Great Lakes Vessels, 18th Century Maritime Disasters, Naval History of the Great Lakes

Glossary Terms:

• Sloop: A single-masted sailing vessel, often armed, used for military patrols and transport during the 18th century.
• Foundered: A maritime term indicating that a vessel sank due to taking on water, often during storms.
• Fort Michilimackinac: A strategic colonial fort at the Straits of Mackinac, central to British and French control of the Great Lakes.
• Straits of Mackinac: A narrow waterway connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, historically critical for military and commercial navigation.

Conclusion

The Welcome holds a unique place in Great Lakes maritime history as one of the earliest armed vessels built in the region, serving during a time of geopolitical tension and frontier expansion. Her tragic loss in the treacherous Straits of Mackinac underscores the perils faced by early mariners navigating these waters without the benefit of modern technology. The preservation of her artifacts and the construction of a replica ensure that her story remains a vital part of the region’s historical narrative, connecting us to the era when the Great Lakes were both a frontier and a battleground.