IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• • Name: Empire State and Dunderburg
• Type: Empire State: Propeller-driven Steamer
• Dunderburg: Three-masted Schooner
• Collision Date: August 13, 1868
• Final Location: Lake Huron, off the eastern coast of Michigan
• Coordinates:
• Dunderburg Wreck: Approximately 4 miles off Harbor Beach, Michigan
• Empire State Wreck: Exact location undetermined
• Depth:
• Dunderburg: Approximately 150 feet (45.7 meters)
• Empire State: Location and depth unknown

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTIONS

Empire State:

A propeller-driven Steamer constructed to carry general cargo across the Great Lakes. No specific details about its build or specifications are available. The vessel was known for its capacity and service in regional trade.

Dunderburg:

• Official Number: U.S. No. 6151
• Build Year: 1867
• Builder: James M. Jones, Detroit, Michigan
• Specifications:
• Tonnage: 596 tons
• Type: Wooden three-masted Schooner
• Cargo at Time of Incident: 40,000 bushels of grain
• Design Features: Notable for its unique river alligator figurehead, a distinct feature of its construction.

HISTORY

On August 13, 1868, the Empire State collided with the Dunderburg during a routine voyage on Lake Huron. The incident occurred in the early hours under unclear Visibility, attributed to human error on the part of the Empire State’s mate.

Collision Outcome:

• Empire State:

• Sank within 10 minutes.

• Aboard was Mrs. Wilcox, the owner’s wife, who tragically drowned, marking the only known fatality.

• Wreck location remains undiscovered.

• Dunderburg:

• Severely damaged but managed to limp to Sarnia, Ontario, in a sinking condition.

• Eventually sank off Harbor Beach, Michigan, where it rests today.

FINAL DISPOSITIONS

Empire State:

The vessel sank rapidly following the collision. Its wreck remains undiscovered, and its cargo is presumed lost.

Dunderburg:

The Schooner was scuttled near Harbor Beach after being Abandoned as a Total Loss. The site is preserved remarkably well, including its alligator figurehead, and has become a popular technical diving location.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

Empire State:

• Status: Unlocated

• Access: Not applicable.

Dunderburg:

• Status: Well-preserved; sits upright in 150 feet (45.7 meters) of water.

• Accessibility: Suitable for technical divers due to depth and Visibility. Artifacts, including the figurehead and structural elements, remain visible and intact.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

• Mariners should exercise caution when navigating the area around Harbor Beach due to potential underwater obstructions.

• The Dunderburg wreck site is not marked with buoys but is known among the diving community.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society: Dunderburg Shipwreck
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Dunderburg Collision Report
• Scuba Diving Resources: Great Lakes Wrecks – Dunderburg
• 3D Shipwrecks – Dunderburg

3D Model – Dunderburg

Dunderberg by 3DShipwrecks on Sketchfab

Schooner Dunderberg Figurehead by BeckyKaganSchott on Sketchfab

CONCLUSION

The collision of the Empire State and Dunderburg on Lake Huron represents one of the dramatic maritime disasters of the Great Lakes. While the wreck of the Empire State remains undiscovered, the Dunderburg offers a tangible link to this history. The site serves as a compelling destination for divers and historians alike, preserving a critical chapter in the narrative of Great Lakes shipping.

KEYWORDS

• Empire State

• Dunderburg

• Lake Huron shipwrecks

• Great Lakes collisions

• Schooner wreck

• Maritime history

• Diving sites in Lake Huron