Identification & Site Information:

• • Name(s): Nightingale
• • Registry: United States
• • Official Number: 18123
• • Vessel Type: Schooner
• • Year Built: 1856
• • Year Sank: 1859
• • Hull Material: Wood
• • Engines: None
• • Dimensions:
• • Length: 138 ft (42.1 m)
• • Width: 29.5 ft (9 m)
• • Depth: 11.3 ft (3.4 m)

Vessel Type

The Nightingale was a wooden Schooner designed for cargo transport on the Great Lakes. It would have been used to carry bulk materials such as lumber, grain, or coal, common for schooners of the mid-19th century.

Description

The Nightingale was built in 1856, serving as a cargo carrier for only three years before its sinking in 1859. Specific details of its service life are sparse, but like many schooners, it likely operated as part of the busy Great Lakes trade network.

The vessel sank in Lake Huron under conditions not fully documented. It is thought to have succumbed to severe weather, as was common for schooners operating in the unpredictable Great Lakes environment.

Final Dispositions

The wreck of the Nightingale lies at a depth of 85 ft (25.9 m) in Lake Huron.

• The wreck is somewhat intact, though its sides have collapsed:

• The port side collapsed outward, while the starboard side collapsed inward.

• The Stern is upright but disconnected from the sides of the vessel.

• The site lacks much of the ship’s original machinery:

• The Windlass, winches, and anchors are missing.

• Key features that remain include:

• Chain plates, visible on the site.

• The wheel, although encrusted and broken, is still present.

• The hanging Deck knees in the midship section, which are angled and provide structural insights into the vessel’s construction.

Located By & Date Found

The Nightingale has been documented as part of efforts to preserve the history of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, particularly within Lake Huron. The GPS coordinates of the wreck have not been disclosed to protect it from unauthorized exploration.

NOTMARs & Advisories

The wreck lies at a depth suitable for intermediate divers with appropriate training and equipment. Divers are encouraged to respect the historical significance of the site and adhere to guidelines protecting the wreck from disturbance or artifact removal.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Historical Society: Nightingale
• Spectacle Reef History: Nightingale
• 3DShipwrecks – Nightingale

3d Model – Nightingale

Nightingale by 3DShipwrecks on Sketchfab

Keywords, Categories, Glossary

Keywords: Nightingale, Lake Huron Shipwrecks, Wooden Schooner, Spectacle Reef

Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History, Cargo Vessels

Glossary: Chain Plates, Hanging Deck Knees, Collapsed Wreck, Port Side, Starboard Side