Identification & Site Information

• Name: Detroit
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: 6198
• Date Built and Launched: May 18, 1859
• Builder: Mason & Bidwell, Buffalo, New York
• Master Carpenter: Andrew S. Mason
• Original Owner: Julius Morris, Buffalo, NY
• Ownership Notes: Official of the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad Co.

Construction and Ownership

• Vessel Type: Steamer (originally sidewheel, later converted to propeller/screw Steamer)
• Hull Materials: Wood, diagonally strapped with iron for added structural integrity
• Number of Decks: 1
• Power:
• Number of Masts: 2
• Propulsion: Sidewheel (later converted to screw Steamer)
• Engine Type: Vertical Beam (Walking Beam)
• Engine Specs: 60″ x 144″, 1050 horsepower by Shepard Iron Works, Buffalo, NY (later transferred to NORTHWEST in 1876)
• Boilers: 2 tubular boilers, 23’6″ x 10′, from Buffalo, NY
• Sidewheels: 36 feet in diameter
• Measurements:Length: 239 ft (72.85 m) Beam: 34 ft 4 in (10.46 m) Depth: 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
• Tonnage (old style): 1039 31/95 tons
• Capacity: 200 passengers, 40,000 bushels of grain, 700 cords of lumber

History

The Detroit was launched on May 18, 1859, as a sister ship to the MILWAUKEE (1868) and was designed to mirror the Royal Steam Packets in both appearance and service quality. The vessel was built at a cost of $250,000, reflecting its intended role as a luxury year-round service Steamer operating between Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Grand Haven, Michigan.

Ownership transitioned several times during its lifespan. Initially owned by Julius Morris of Buffalo, NY, the vessel came under the control of the Lake Michigan Transit Co. by August 1859, and later to the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad Co. in 1864, aligning with the company’s strategy of integrating maritime and rail services.

The Detroit faced numerous challenges during its career, including mechanical failures and groundings:

• 1862: Broke machinery near Long Point, Lake Erie, and later that year sprang a leak near Malden in the Detroit River.
• 1862, Nov: Sank in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, but was later raised.
• 1863: Ran aground at Sand Point, Saginaw Bay.
• 1868: Wrecked outside Grand Haven, Michigan.

Despite these setbacks, the vessel was Rebuilt multiple times:

• In 1870, it was converted into a Schooner Barge after sustaining damage from a collision with the propeller COMET on the Detroit River in 1869.
• By 1871, the Detroit was reconstructed again as a propeller or screw Steamer, incorporating the high-pressure engine from the propeller HUNTER.

Final Disposition

On September 29, 1872, while towing the schooner Barge HUNTER, the Detroit encountered a storm on Lake Huron near Greenbush, south of Harrisville, Michigan. Both vessels were driven ashore in the storm. The Detroit was wrecked, and its machinery was later salvaged in 1875 and installed in the Steamer NORTHWEST.

The Detroit‘s documents were surrendered on March 8, 1873, marking the official end of its service.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There is no documented discovery of the wreck site of the Detroit near Greenbush or Harrisville, Michigan.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No navigational hazards associated with this wreck have been reported.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
• Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy
• William MacDonald Collection, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Detroit
• H. G. Runge Collection, Milwaukee Public Library

Conclusion

The Detroit‘s history is emblematic of the Golden Age of Great Lakes steamers, when vessels were continuously modified to meet evolving transportation demands. Its repeated rebuilds, mechanical failures, and eventual Conversion from a Sidewheel Steamer to a propeller-driven vessel highlight the adaptability of maritime technology during the 19th century. The vessel’s ultimate loss in Lake Huron alongside its towed Barge HUNTER underscores the persistent challenges faced by even the most advanced ships of their time, battling the unpredictable conditions of the Great Lakes.