Identification & Site Information

• Name: Western States
• Former Names: None
• Official Registration Number: 81811
• Date Built and Launched: Built in 1902 by Detroit Shipbuilding Co., Wyandotte, Michigan (Hull #145) 
• Measurements: 350 ft (106.7 m) length x 44 ft (13.4 m) beam x 20 ft (6.1 m) depth; Gross Tonnage: 3,077 tons; Net Tonnage: 1,566 tons
• Date Lost: March 21, 1959
• Place of Loss: Tawas City, Michigan
• Lake: Lake Huron

Vessel Type

The Western States was a steel-hulled, sidewheel passenger steamer, originally part of the Detroit & Cleveland Navigation Company’s (D&C) fleet, designed to transport passengers across the Great Lakes with both elegance and efficiency.

Description

Constructed in 1902, the Western States represented the peak of Sidewheel Steamer design, blending speed, power, and passenger comfort. She was part of the luxurious D&C Line, which was renowned for providing first-class accommodations and amenities. Sidewheel steamers like Western States were a common sight on the Great Lakes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, prized for their ability to navigate both open waters and tighter harbours.

History

The Western States served as a prominent passenger vessel on the Great Lakes, primarily operating between major ports such as Detroit, Cleveland, and Buffalo. She was designed to offer not just transportation, but a luxurious experience for travelers, boasting fine dining, comfortable staterooms, and elegant lounges. With a crew of 136, she was well-equipped to handle the needs of hundreds of passengers.

By the mid-20th century, the decline of Great Lakes passenger Steamship travel—due to the rise of railroads, automobiles, and airplanes—led to her retirement from active service. In 1955, she was docked at Tawas City, Michigan, and repurposed as a floating hotel, or “flotel.” However, this business venture was not successful, and by 1959, plans were made to dismantle the vessel.

On March 21, 1959, during the dismantling process, the Western States caught fire and was completely gutted. The cause of the fire was never definitively determined, but arson was suspected. After the fire, what remained of the vessel was towed to Bay City, Michigan, for scrapping, though the process proved difficult, with several tugs struggling to move the damaged Hull.

Final Disposition

The Western States was gutted by fire at Tawas City in 1959 and subsequently towed to Bay City, Michigan, where she was dismantled and scrapped.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No navigational obstructions or specific advisories related to the Western States have been issued.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships
• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The Western States serves as a testament to the grandeur of early 20th-century passenger steamers on the Great Lakes. While her days as a Sidewheel Steamer brought luxury and convenience to thousands of travelers, her unfortunate end as a failed floating hotel and subsequent destruction by fire marked the final chapter in her storied history. The vessel’s fate mirrors the broader decline of passenger Steamship travel on the Great Lakes, as shifting transportation trends rendered many of these once-proud ships obsolete.

Suggested Keywords: Western States, D&C Line steamers, Sidewheel Steamer, Great Lakes passenger steamers, Tawas City shipwreck, Lake Huron maritime history, floating hotel ship.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, Great Lakes Passenger Steamers, 20th Century Maritime History.

Glossary Terms: Sidewheel Steamer, Flotel, Dismantling, Arson Suspected, Detroit & Cleveland Navigation Company (D&C).