Identification & Site Information:
- • Name(s): Niagara (Side-wheel Steamer)
- • Registry: United States
- • Official Number: Not Applicable
- • Vessel Type: Side-wheel Steamer
- • Year Built: 1845
- • Year Sank: 1856
- • Hull Material: Wood
- • Masts: 0
- • Engine(s): Not Applicable
- • Dimensions:
- • Length: 225 ft (68.6 m)
- • Width: 34 ft (10.4 m)
- • Depth: 14 ft (4.3 m)
Vessel Type
The Niagara was a wooden side-wheel Steamer, a type of steam-powered vessel with large paddle wheels mounted on its sides. These vessels were widely used for passenger and cargo transport during the mid-19th century.
Description
Built in 1845 for the New York & Erie Railway Co. and part of the Collingwood Line, the Niagara was designed to carry passengers and goods across the Great Lakes. On September 22, 1856, it departed Collingwood, Ontario, with approximately 300 passengers onboard, bound for destinations on the southern shore of Lake Michigan.
Tragedy struck two days later on September 24, 1856, when the ship caught fire near Belgium, Wisconsin, and sank. Despite efforts to save passengers and crew, the disaster resulted in the loss of 60 lives, making it one of the deadliest shipwrecks of the time.
Final Dispositions
The wreck lies in 55 ft (16.8 m) of water near Port Washington, Wisconsin, in Lake Michigan.
• The engine is mangled, and remnants of the sidewheels are visible at the site.
• Portions of the ship’s bottom and sides remain on the lakebed.
• Notable features include the walking beam and engine cylinders, both identifiable and of historical interest.
• The boilers, not part of the main wreckage, are located some distance north of the primary site.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck has been well-documented as part of Wisconsin’s rich maritime history and is included in the Wisconsin Shipwreck Preservation Program. It is protected as a historical site and is monitored for ongoing preservation.
NOTMARs & Advisories
The wreck’s shallow depth makes it accessible to recreational divers with proper equipment and training. Visitors are advised to respect the wreck as a cultural artifact and to avoid disturbing or removing any materials from the site.
Resources & Links
3D Model – Niagara
Niagara Sidewheel Steamer by 3DShipwrecks on Sketchfab
Keywords, Categories, Glossary
Keywords: Niagara, Side-wheel Steamer, Lake Michigan Shipwrecks, Port Washington, Wisconsin Shipwrecks
Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History, Passenger Vessel Disasters
Glossary: Side-wheel Steamer, Walking Beam, Engine Cylinders, Boilers, Collingwood Line
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