Shipwreck Report: Steamer Wyoming (1870–1904)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Wyoming
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 80135
• Vessel Type: Wooden Propeller Steamer (Bulk Freight “Rabbit”)
• Built: 1870, by Dunford, Detroit, Michigan
• Final Location: Off Pointe Aux Barques, Lake Huron
• Date Lost: November 12, 1904
• Cause: Fire and storm
• Final Cargo: Timbers
• Loss of Life: None
• Specifications
  • Original Length: 119 feet (36.3 meters) (as built in 1870)
  • Final Length: 147 feet (44.8 meters) (after modifications in 1882) Beam: 28 feet (8.5 meters)  Depth: 9 feet (2.7 meters)
• Original Tonnage: 154 tons (as steambarge in 1870)
• Final Tonnage: 350 tons (after Conversion in 1891)
• Hull Material: Wood
• Owner at Loss: Shannon & Garey, Saginaw, Michigan
• Propulsion: Originally steam-powered, later converted to sail, then back to steam

Operational History

The Wyoming was built in 1870 by Dunford in Detroit, Michigan as a small wooden steam-powered bulk freight carrier. She was initially constructed as a steambarge, designed to haul lumber and general cargo on the Great Lakes.

However, her career was marked by repeated modifications, sinkings, and rebuilds:

• 1870–1873:  Launched as a 119-foot steam-powered Barge.  Used primarily for timber transport between Michigan and Ontario.
• 1873 – Converted to an unpowered Barge Her engines were removed, and she was converted into a Schooner-Barge, meaning she had sails but was typically towed by a Steamer.
• October 1871 – Stranded near Forester, Michigan Reported as broken up, but later repaired and returned to service.
• 1876 – Sank near Port Huron, Michigan  Again salvaged and Rebuilt.
• 1882 – Rebuilt as a Schooner  Modified to 147 feet long, 289 tons, and fitted with sails as a fully rigged Schooner.
• 1891 – Converted back to a Steam-Powered Propeller Freighter Re-engined at Au Sable, Michigan, turning her back into a steam-powered vessel.
• 1892 – Sank north of Port Huron, Michigan Raised and repaired yet again, continuing service for another 12 years.

Final Voyage & Loss (November 12, 1904)

• Departure & Route:

• The Wyoming departed Lake Superior with a cargo of timbers, bound for Goderich, Ontario.  The ship was owned by Shannon & Garey of Saginaw, Michigan, and was one of the last wooden steamers still operating on the lakes.
•  Weather Conditions: A strong storm swept across Lake Huron, bringing high winds and rough waves. The Wyoming struggled against the storm, but disaster struck before she could reach shelter.

Incident Details:

While fighting the storm, the Wyoming caught fire.  The crew was forced to abandon the vessel as flames spread through her wooden Hull and cargo. She burned and Foundered 8 miles east of Burnt Cabin Point, off Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan.

The U.S. Lifesaving Service rescued all crew members, ensuring no loss of life.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: 8 miles east of Burnt Cabin Point, near Pointe Aux Barques, Lake Huron
• Current Condition:
  • The Wyoming’s remains have not been definitively located.
  • Her wooden Hull likely disintegrated over time, but metal components (boiler, propeller, engine) could still exist.
• The fire and storm damage may have scattered the wreckage across the lakebed.
•  Potential for Discovery: Modern sonar and underwater searches could potentially identify wreckage in deep water off Pointe Aux Barques.

Legacy and Significance

One of the Most Rebuilt Vessels on the Great Lakes The Wyoming had an extremely eventful career, being sunk, stranded, and Rebuilt multiple times over 34 years. Her series of modifications (from steambarge to Schooner to Propeller Steamer) illustrates the constant evolution of Great Lakes shipping.

The Hazards of Wooden Steamers in the Early 20th Century By 1904, wooden bulk freighters were rapidly being replaced by steel-hulled steamers. The Wyoming’s destruction by fire in a storm reflects the vulnerability of wooden ships to both natural and mechanical disasters.

Part of Michigan’s Maritime History The Wyoming’s loss near Pointe Aux Barques places her among dozens of wrecks in this dangerous area of Lake Huron.  Pointe Aux Barques has long been known as a shipwreck graveyard, with many vessels lost due to storms, Navigation Hazards, and mechanical failures.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes  http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca  Documents shipwrecks, vessel conversions, and Great Lakes shipping history.
• Michigan Shipwreck Research Association  https://www.michiganshipwrecks.org Researches wrecks near Pointe Aux Barques and Lake Huron’s dangerous waters.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum (Whitefish Point, MI)  https://www.shipwreckmuseum.com  Focuses on early steamers, wooden freighters, and lost vessels like the Wyoming.
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Bruce County Museum  Holds archival photographs and records of Great Lakes vessels, including the Wyoming.

Conclusion

The Wyoming (1870–1904) was a wooden steam-powered bulk freighter that was Rebuilt multiple times over 34 years before being lost to fire in a storm off Pointe Aux Barques, Michigan, on November 12, 1904. Despite her long history of sinkings, strandings, and conversions, she continued operating until her final disaster.

Her story represents the resilience of early Great Lakes vessels, but also illustrates the dangers of wooden steamersin an era when steel ships were taking over. The Wyoming’s remains have never been located, but her place in maritime history is well-documented.