Identification & Site Information

• Name: Wisconsin
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: None
• Date Built & Launched: 1833
• Builder: A. Harndt & Co., Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Specifications: 75 ft x 24 ft x 9 ft (22.9 m x 7.3 m x 2.7 m), 133 tons
• Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner
• Date Lost: September 2, 1847
• Place of Loss: Porte des Mortes (Death’s Door), Lake Michigan
• Cause of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo: Lumber

Vessel Type

The Wisconsin was a wooden Schooner, a common type of sailing vessel used on the Great Lakes during the early 19th century. These ships were designed for cargo transport, primarily hauling lumber, grain, and other goods between ports in the growing Midwest.

Description & History

The Wisconsin is reputed to be the first vessel built in Green Bay, Wisconsin, marking an important milestone in the region’s early shipbuilding industry. Constructed by A. Harndt & Co. in 1833, the vessel was a relatively small Schooner, typical of the era’s merchant ships. It was used primarily for carrying lumber, an essential commodity for the growing settlements around the Great Lakes.

During the mid-1800s, schooners like the Wisconsin were essential for trade and transportation, as roads and railways were still limited. Vessels of this type commonly sailed between Chicago, Green Bay, and other developing ports, moving supplies and raw materials for construction and industry. The Great Lakes were notorious for unpredictable weather, and many ships met their fate in violent storms, especially in the treacherous waters around Porte des Mortes, also known as “Death’s Door.”

Final Disposition

On September 2, 1847, the Wisconsin encountered a storm while navigating near Porte des Mortes, a perilous passage between the Door Peninsula and Washington Island, Wisconsin. The vessel reportedly went ashore and was declared a Total Loss. Fortunately, there was no loss of life. Given the ship’s age and the extent of damage, it was likely Abandoned rather than salvaged.

Located By & Date Found

There is no confirmed discovery of the wreckage of the Wisconsin, and it is presumed that any remaining structure has been scattered or buried due to natural forces over time.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No known modern obstructions or hazards associated with this wreck.

Resources & Links

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

Conclusion

The Wisconsin holds historical significance as one of the earliest vessels built in Green Bay and as a representation of the vital lumber trade on the Great Lakes in the early 19th century. While its wreck has not been located, its loss at Death’s Door highlights the dangers faced by early mariners navigating the Great Lakes.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Great Lakes shipwrecks, Schooner, Wisconsin shipbuilding, Death’s Door, early Great Lakes commerce, maritime history

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, 19th-century shipwrecks, lost schooners, Wisconsin maritime history

Glossary Terms: Schooner, Death’s Door, Lumber trade, Total Loss