Shipwreck Report: Schooner Wyandotte (1833–1853)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Wyandotte (also seen as Wyandot)
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: None (pre-registration era)
• Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner (Two-Masted Sailing Vessel)
• Built: 1833, Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), Ohio
• Final Location: 15 miles east of Erie, Pennsylvania, Lake Erie
• Date Lost: October 20, 1853
• Cause: Storm – Sprang a leak and sank
• Final Cargo: Coal
• Loss of Life: None
• Specifications
  •  Original Dimensions (1833):  Length: 70 feet (21.3 meters)  Beam: 22 feet (6.7 meters) Depth: 7 feet (2.1 meters) Tonnage: 99 tons (old measurement)
  •  Post-Rebuild Dimensions (1841):  Length: 79 feet (24.1 meters)  Beam: 23 feet (7.0 meters) Depth: 9 feet (2.7 meters) Tonnage: 141 tons (old measurement)
• Hull Material: Wood
• Propulsion: Sail-powered, Two-Masted Schooner
• Home Port: Buffalo, New York

Operational History

The Wyandotte was a classic two-masted Schooner, built in Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), Ohio, in 1833. Like many schooners of the early 19th century, she was used in the Great Lakes trade, likely carrying grain, coal, lumber, and general cargo between Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, and other ports.

In 1841, she was Rebuilt and enlarged, increasing her length, depth, and tonnage to accommodate larger cargo loads. Despite being two decades old by 1853, she continued to operate in the coal trade on Lake Erie.

Final Voyage & Loss (October 20, 1853)

Departure & Route:  The Wyandotte was downbound on Lake Erie, carrying a load of coal to an unknown port, possibly Buffalo, New York.

Weather Conditions: A storm moved across Lake Erie, creating strong winds and heavy waves.

Incident Details:  The Wyandotte sprang a leak while navigating the rough waters.  The crew was unable to control the flooding, and the vessel began sinking in 75 feet of water.  The crew Abandoned ship in the lifeboat and successfully made it to shore. The Schooner quickly sank beneath the waves, where she has remained since.

Aftermath: The Wyandotte was valued at $2,000 at the time of her loss. No efforts were made to salvage or recover the vessel, as wooden ships were often Abandoned after sinking.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: Approximately 15 miles east of Erie, Pennsylvania, in Lake Erie
• Depth: 75 feet (23 meters)
• Current Condition:
  • The wooden Hull may still be largely intact, as the cold freshwater of Lake Erie preserves shipwrecks well.
  • The Wyandotte’s coal cargo may still be present on the lakebed.
  • The wreck could be a target for divers and sonar searches, given its known location and manageable depth.
• Potential for Discovery:
  • Since Lake Erie has one of the highest concentrations of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, the Wyandotte may already be located but unidentified.
  •  Modern sonar scanning technology could pinpoint the wreck site if not already discovered.

Legacy and Significance

A Representation of Early Great Lakes Schooners The Wyandotte was an example of the early schooners that dominated Great Lakes commerce before the rise of steam-powered vessels. Her Rebuild in 1841 demonstrates the evolution of shipbuilding to accommodate growing cargo demands.

Part of Lake Erie’s Coal Trade By the 1850s, coal was a growing cargo commodity on the Great Lakes, fueling industries in Buffalo, Cleveland, and Detroit. Schooners like the Wyandotte played a key role in transporting coal before larger steam freighters took over in the late 19th century.

Erie, Pennsylvania – A Major Shipwreck Zone The waters near Erie, Pennsylvania, are home to dozens of shipwrecks, making it one of the most significant maritime heritage areas on Lake Erie.

Other notable wrecks near Erie include:

• USS Michigan (1843–1949) – The first iron-hulled warship of the U.S. Navy, later renamed USS Wolverine.
• Schooner Dean Richmond (1893) – Sank in a storm east of Erie with a cargo of coal.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes  http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Contains historical ship registries and shipping company records.
• Pennsylvania Archaeology Shipwreck Database  https://pashipwrecks.org Features Erie-area shipwrecks, including potential documentation on the Wyandotte.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum https://www.shipwreckmuseum.com  Archives Great Lakes shipwrecks, coal trade history, and maritime disasters.
• Erie Maritime Museum (Erie, PA)  Home to exhibits on Lake Erie shipwrecks and early schooners.

Conclusion

The Wyandotte (1833–1853) was a wooden two-masted Schooner built in Lower Sandusky, Ohio, and Rebuilt in 1841to increase its size and cargo capacity. She was lost in a storm on October 20, 1853, after springing a leak and sinking in 75 feet of water east of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Her coal cargo, along with possible remnants of her wooden Hull, may still be preserved on the lakebed. While her wreck has never been officially identified, she remains an important example of early Great Lakes Schooner commerce, particularly in the Lake Erie coal trade.