SHIPWRECK REPORT: MAY FLOWER

Type: Wooden Scow Schooner

Incident Date: June 2, 1891

Location: 4 miles from Duluth Harbor entrance, Minnesota, Lake Superior

Discovery: 1991

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Name: May Flower

• Construction:

• Builder: Unknown

• Year Built: 1887

• Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

• Dimensions: Not documented

• Design: Two-masted scow Schooner with unique construction features, differing from typical Great Lakes scows and resembling scows from New Zealand.

HISTORY

Construction and Purpose:

The May Flower was a wooden scow Schooner, a vessel type designed for carrying bulk cargoes efficiently. These flat-bottomed ships were capable of independent sailing but were often towed by steam-powered vessels for added efficiency.

Final Voyage:

• Cargo: Sandstone blocks, loaded in Portage, Michigan, bound for Duluth, Minnesota.

• Incident:

• The May Flower capsized in heavy seas just 4 miles from Duluth Harbor.

• Historical records suggest the vessel was under tow by a steam-powered ship at the time of the incident.

• Outcome:

• The vessel sank with no known casualties reported.

• The wreck represents the first documented scow Schooner shipwreck in Minnesota’s portion of Lake Superior.

DISCOVERY AND SIGNIFICANCE

• Year Discovered: 1991

• Archaeological Integrity: The remains are well-preserved, offering unique insights into the design and use of scow schooners in the Great Lakes.

• Unique Features:

• Construction details reveal significant differences from lower Great Lakes scows, drawing parallels to scow schooners used in New Zealand.

• Provides a rare opportunity to study this vessel type in Lake Superior.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

• Depth: Not explicitly stated but accessible for underwater archaeological research and advanced divers.

• Condition:

• The wreck retains significant structural integrity.

• Sandstone blocks and elements of the Hull are visible, providing insight into its design and cargo handling.

• Accessibility: Likely suitable for technical divers with cold-water and wreck diving experience.

SIGNIFICANCE

The May Flower holds immense historical and archaeological value as the first scow Schooner shipwreck documented in Minnesota waters of Lake Superior. Its unique design features contribute to the broader understanding of scow Schooner construction and usage in the Great Lakes and beyond.

NOTES FOR DIVERS AND RESEARCHERS

• Conservation:

• Preserve the wreck site by avoiding disturbance of artifacts and structures.

• Potential for Study:

• Comparative analysis with other scow schooners from the lower Great Lakes and New Zealand.

REFERENCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• Great Lakes Historical Society archives

• Minnesota Historical Society reports on Lake Superior wrecks

This report encapsulates the May Flower’s historical and archaeological importance, offering an understanding of its unique place in maritime history.