The Wreck of the Package Freighter Nebraska (1867-1904)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Nebraska
• Former Name: Congress (renamed in 1902)
• Official Number: 18093
• Year Built: 1867
• Builder: E.M. Peck & Co.
• Place Built: Cleveland, Ohio
• Vessel Type: Package Freighter
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Decks: 2
• Original Owner: Holt, Ensign & Co., Buffalo, NY
• Final Owners: John G. Bullen & Capt. O’Hagan, Buffalo
• Home Port: Buffalo, New York

Vessel Type

The Nebraska was a wooden-hulled package freighter, originally launched in 1867. At 267.4 feet (81.5 m) in length, with a beam of 35.5 feet (10.8 m) and a depth of 14.2 feet (4.3 m), she had a Gross Tonnage of 1,483.53 tons and Net Tonnage of 1,362.13 tons. The vessel was one of the largest propeller-driven ships on the Great Lakes when it was built.

She was powered by two steeple compound engines (18, 36 x 36″, 700 hp, 85 rpm) built by King Iron Works of Buffalo, making her one of the most powerful steamers of her time.

Description & History

The Nebraska was built for package freight and passenger service, primarily operating between Buffalo, Cleveland, and Chicago. Throughout her long career, she had numerous incidents and collisions, including fires, groundings, and mid-lake crashes.

• 1869 (January): Damaged in a collision with the Bark Wells at Buffalo.
• 1869 (July): Collided with Tug Wilcox in the Detroit River.
• 1869 (November): Collision with Bark Wenona in the Straits of Mackinac.
• 1871 (September 28): Burned in the Great Chicago Fire, her upper works destroyed.
• 1874 (September): Collided with the Schooner Sardinia in Chicago.
• 1876 (May): Ran aground on Racine Reef, Lake Michigan.
• 1886 (July 29): Sank the Schooner Joseph M. Enright in a collision in the St. Clair Flats.
• 1888: Rebuilt to increase its carrying capacity to 106,500 bushels.
• 1892-1893: Rebuilt at Wolf & Davidson’s yard in Milwaukee as an excursion vessel for the Chicago World’s Fair.
• 1902: Renamed Congress, Rebuilt as a lumber carrier.

Final Disposition & Wreck

The Nebraska, now renamed Congress, met her final fate on October 5, 1904 while unloading lumber at South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan.

• While unloading, a fire broke out aboard the vessel.
• The ship was hastily towed away from the dock to prevent the flames from spreading.
• Despite efforts to extinguish the blaze, the fire raged out of control, consuming the wooden freighter.
• Eventually, the vessel sank in 26 fathoms (156 feet/48 m) of water.

No loss of life was reported in the fire, but the ship and cargo were a Total Loss.

Current Site & Dive Information

• Location: South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
• Depth: 156 feet (48 meters)
• Wreck Condition: Largely intact due to the depth and cold water
• Bottom Type: Sand
• Visibility: Generally excellent, as Lake Michigan’s deep, cold waters help preserve the wreck
• Features: Remains of the burned Hull, portions of the freight Deck, and scattered wreckage

Located By & Date Found

The wreck of the Nebraska (Congress) was discovered decades later, and it remains one of the deeper, well-preserved wrecks in Lake Michigan.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil returns.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Wisconsin Shipwrecks Database
• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Research

Conclusion

The Nebraska/Congress had a long and storied career on the Great Lakes, surviving numerous collisions, fires, and rebuilds before finally succumbing to a devastating fire at South Manitou Island in 1904. Today, her wreck serves as a testament to the challenges of Great Lakes shipping and offers a fascinating dive site for underwater explorers.