- Bulk Carrier
The Robert Wallace, a wooden bulk freighter, was built in 1882 in Cleveland, Ohio. It had two decks and was owned by David Wallace and others from Black River, Ohio (Lorain). The vessel, measuring 209.4 feet in length, 36.2 feet in beam, and 17.9 feet in depth, had a gross tonnage of 1,189.56 and a net tonnage of 905.38. It was powered by a screw propulsion system and featured a for-and-aft compound engine with two cylinders. The engine, manufactured by Globe Iron Works in Cleveland, Ohio, produced 550 horsepower and had a speed of 86 revolutions per minute. The ship was equipped with a single propeller and a scotch boiler, generating steam at a pressure of 100 pounds.
On November 17, 1902, the Robert Wallace met its final fate when it foundered in Lake Superior, approximately 13 miles southeast of Two Harbors, Minnesota. The vessel was carrying a cargo of iron ore at the time. The stress of towing caused the stern post to tear out, and a burst steam pipe further exacerbated the situation. The ship succumbed to these complications and sank into the depths of the lake.
The sinking of the Robert Wallace marked the end of its 20-year service as a wooden bulk carrier that played a crucial role in connecting Minnesota’s Iron Range with manufacturing centers in the eastern United States. The remains of the vessel remained undiscovered until September 2006 when underwater archaeologists located them 235 feet below the surface of Lake Superior. The wreckage revealed remarkably well-preserved artifacts, including a bronze bell still attached to a wooden rail, bearing the engraved name of the ship. While the hull had separated along the stem, the two sides remained relatively intact, as did most of the stern. The partially broken bow allowed for a comprehensive examination of various hull construction features, providing valuable insights that are typically unavailable at other shipwreck sites.
