The steam screw MONTANA, with U.S. registration number 90501, was a freight vessel measuring 1,212 tons gross and 952 tons net. It was built in Port Huron, Michigan, in 1872 and had its home port in Buffalo, New York. The ship’s dimensions were 236.3 feet in length, 36.5 feet in width, and 13.0 feet in depth. The MONTANA operated in freight service and had a crew of 22 members. The vessel was powered by a 500 indicated horsepower engine.
On September 6, 1914, a tragic incident occurred when the MONTANA caught fire at Sulpher Island, Michigan, in Lake Huron. At the time of the incident, there were 14 individuals on board the vessel. Thankfully, all 14 persons managed to evacuate the ship safely, and no lives were lost in the fire.
After the fire, the MONTANA was left in a wrecked condition. Presently, the wreck lies at the coordinates 44°59’03.33″N and 83°16’01.39″W, submerged at a depth of 40 feet in Lake Huron. The vessel is described as a sidewheel steamer and is in two pieces at the location. Buoy markers have been placed, with one buoy marking the bow and another buoy marking the stern of the wreck.
There have been some discrepancies in the identification of this wreck. A nearby AWOIS (Automated Wreck and Obstruction Information System) item, number 2496, is also described as the MONTANA, but it may be in error. The correct wreck position is identified as AWOIS 14560, and it matches the location of the MONTANA. NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary personnel have verified AWOIS 14560 as the wreck of the MONTANA using Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES) data from Kongsberg 3002.
Despite the tragic fire incident that befell the MONTANA, its wreck now serves as an interesting and potentially accessible site for divers to explore, offering a glimpse into the maritime history of Lake Huron.
