Identification Card (Site Style)

Vessel Type Description

The Colorado was a large wooden propeller-driven package freight Steamer, specifically designed to transport bulk cargo across the Great Lakes. With a length of 252 feet and substantial tonnage, it was among the larger vessels on the lakes during its time, capable of carrying heavy loads across vast distances. The vessel’s wooden Hull, though sturdy, was vulnerable to the rugged conditions of Lake Superior, especially as it aged.

History

The Colorado was constructed in 1867 by Mason & Bidwell of Buffalo, New York. Its robust size and capacity made it ideal for the package freight trade on the Great Lakes, and it quickly became a familiar sight across the waters. The vessel faced numerous challenges throughout its life, including a significant explosion off Buffalo in October 1883, when its boiler exploded, claiming several lives. This incident underscored the dangers faced by mariners and the technological limits of the era’s vessels. Despite the setback, major repairs were completed in 1881, allowing the Colorado to continue its service.

In September 1898, the vessel set out from Buffalo with a cargo of 1,500 tons of flour, destined to cross Lake Superior. However, disaster awaited on September 19, near Eagle River, Michigan. Dense smoke from a nearby forest fire created a thick haze that disoriented the crew, causing the Colorado to veer off course and run aground on Sawtooth Reef. The initial impact severely damaged the vessel, but the situation worsened as a series of storms pummeled the area in the days that followed.

On September 20, the first storm hit, with a second storm striking on the 23rd. These relentless gales battered the stranded vessel, and despite the efforts of rescue tugs dispatched from Duluth, the Colorado could not be saved. The Steamer’s structure broke apart, scattering its cargo of flour into the lake, where it was lost to the depths. The wreckage was so extensive that the remains of the Colorado were reported to lie directly atop the wreck of another Steamer, the James Pickands, which had been lost in the same treacherous area just four years earlier.

Final Disposition

The Colorado was completely destroyed on Sawtooth Reef, Lake Superior, on September 19, 1898. Multiple storms following the initial grounding shattered the vessel, reducing it to debris. Its cargo of flour was also lost, sinking along with the vessel into the depths near Eagle River. The wreck’s location, piled atop the remains of the James Pickands, added a somber note to an already tragic event, underscoring the hazardous nature of the reef, which had reportedly claimed sixteen vessels over a span of sixteen years.

Legacy and Historical Significance

The story of the Colorado is a testament to the perils of Great Lakes navigation. As both a symbol of resilience and tragedy, the vessel’s fate highlights the constant risks faced by mariners, from technological limitations and environmental hazards to the merciless power of Lake Superior’s storms. The Colorado’s final resting place on Sawtooth Reef serves as a historical marker, a reminder of the many vessels lost to the unforgiving waters of the Great Lakes. Its legacy endures in maritime records, standing as a tribute to the courage of those who traversed these waters and the sometimes devastating outcomes of their journeys.

Resources & Links

For additional historical information on the Colorado and other vessels lost on Lake Superior:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database: Great Lakes Ships Database
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum: Archival records and underwater footage from Lake Superior
• 3D Shipwrecks – Coloradohttps://3dshipwrecks.org/shipwreck-colorado/

3D Model – Colorado

NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card