Identification & Site Information

• Name: Queen City
• Former Names: None
• Official Registration Number: None
• Date Built and Launched: 1855, by I.W. Nichols, Vermilion, Ohio
• Measurements: Length: 137 ft (41.8 m) Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m) Depth: 11 ft (3.4 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 368 tons
• Date of Loss: November 14, 1864
• Place of Loss: 5 miles southeast of Marquette, 150 ft offshore, Lake Superior

Vessel Type

The Queen City was a wooden two-masted schooner, a common vessel type for transporting bulk cargo on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Schooners were especially suited for carrying heavy freight like firebrick and mining equipment, both essential for the industrial growth in areas like Marquette, Michigan, which was emerging as a mining hub during this period.

Description

Built in 1855 by I.W. Nichols in Vermilion, Ohio, the Queen City was a 137-foot wooden Schooner designed for the Great Lakes cargo trade. Her design allowed for efficient transport of bulk goods across the often treacherous watersof the upper lakes, where industrial towns like Marquette depended on regular shipments of equipment and supplies.

The vessel was owned by A. Bradley of Cleveland, an area that was becoming increasingly involved in the iron ore and mining industries of the Lake Superior region. The Queen City’s cargo capacity and robust design made her well-suited for these demanding freight routes.

History and Service Life

The Queen City served as a freight Schooner on the Great Lakes, primarily transporting industrial supplies and equipment to burgeoning mining towns like Marquette. The iron ore boom in the Lake Superior region created a high demand for firebrick and blast furnace components, materials that vessels like the Queen City were tasked with delivering.

On her final voyage in November 1864, the Queen City was en route to Marquette with a load of firebrick and mining equipment destined for the Collinsville Blast Furnace. The Collinsville operation was part of the expanding iron industry in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which relied heavily on maritime transport due to the region’s limited overland infrastructure at the time.

Final Disposition and Loss (1864)

• Cause of Loss: Storm
• Date of Loss: November 14, 1864
• Location: 5 miles southeast of Marquette, 150 feet offshore, Lake Superior

While nearing her destination of Marquette, the Queen City encountered a severe gale typical of Lake Superior’s late autumn weather. The powerful winds and rough seas drove the Schooner ashore, where she struck bottom and broke in two due to the force of the waves and the weight of her cargo.

Despite the violent conditions, the crew managed to escape, and there were no casualties reported. The vessel, however, was deemed a Total Loss. Her cargo of firebrick and mining equipment was also lost, delaying supplies crucial to the Collinsville blast furnace operations.

Loss of Life

None: The crew successfully Abandoned the vessel after she was driven ashore, and no casualties were reported.

Final Disposition

The Queen City‘s wreck remained offshore near Marquette and was known locally for some time. However, the specific identification of the wreck as the Queen City was only confirmed in 1993 during a site survey. The wreck’s proximity to shore and the relatively shallow depth at 150 feet offshore made it accessible for survey and exploration.

Wreck Discovery and Current Status

Wreck Identified: In 1993, a maritime site survey formally identified the wreck near Marquette as the Queen City. Condition of the Wreck: The vessel remains broken in two, consistent with historical accounts of her destruction. Sections of the Hull and cargo remnants such as firebrick and metal mining equipment are still present at the site.  Diving and Exploration: The wreck is located in relatively shallow water off Marquette, making it a potential dive site for experienced divers. The site offers insights into mid-19th century ship construction and the Great Lakes mining industry.

Historical Significance

Role in the Lake Superior Mining Industry: The Queen City played a key role in supplying mining towns like Marquette during the iron ore boom of the 1860s. Her cargo of firebrick and blast furnace equipment reflects the industrial demands of the region during a critical period of economic expansion.

Representation of Great Lakes Schooners: As a typical two-masted Schooner, the Queen City exemplifies the vessels that supported the economic growth of the Great Lakes region. Her construction in Vermilion, Ohio, and ownership in Cleveland demonstrate the inter-connectedness of Great Lakes commerce.

Storm Hazards on Lake Superior: The vessel’s loss in a gale highlights the hazardous conditions faced by mariners on Lake Superior, especially during the late shipping season. The successful evacuation of the crew also reflects the resilience and preparedness of sailors during this era.

Located By & Date Found

Wreck Identified: 1993, through a site survey near Marquette, Michigan.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no known navigational hazards related to the Queen City wreck, though the site may be of interest to diversand maritime historians.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Lake Superior Shipwreck Research
• Marquette Maritime Museum

Conclusion

The Queen City, a two-masted wooden Schooner built in 1855 by I.W. Nichols in Vermilion, Ohio, was a key part of the Great Lakes freight trade, transporting industrial supplies to support the growing mining industry in Marquette, Michigan. Her loss in a storm on Lake Superior in 1864 reflects the dangers faced by mariners navigating the treacherous waters of the upper lakes.

The wreck, identified in 1993, provides valuable insights into 19th-century shipbuilding and the transportation of mining equipment during the iron ore boom in the Lake Superior region. The Queen City’s story is a testament to the vital role schooners played in the industrial development of the Great Lakes.

Suggested Keywords: Queen City Schooner, Lake Superior shipwrecks, Marquette Michigan maritime history, Great Lakes mining equipment transport, I.W. Nichols shipbuilders, Vermilion Ohio shipbuilding.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Superior, Great Lakes Schooners, Maritime Disasters in Michigan, 19th Century Industrial Shipping.

Glossary Terms: Schooner, Firebrick Transport, Mining Equipment Shipping, Lake Superior Storms, Collinsville Blast Furnace.