Adrian Iselin – Lake Michigan Freighter Shipwreck (1968)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Adrian Iselin
• Type: Steel bulk canal propeller
• Year Built: 1914
• Builder: Detroit/Wyandotte Master Shipbuilding
• Dimensions: 244 ft × 43 ft × 20.5 ft
• Registered Tonnage: 2,072 gross / 1,346 net tons
• Location: Two Rivers, Wisconsin
• Official Number: U.S. 212089
• Original Owners: George Hall Coal Co.

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Bulk Canal Propeller – Built 1914, Scuttled 1968

Description

Construction & Specifications

• Built: March 11, 1914 by Detroit/Wyandotte Master Shipbuilding
• Type: Steel bulk canal propeller
• Official Number: U.S. 212089
• Tonnage: 2,072 gross / 1,346 net tons
• Dimensions: 244 ft × 43 ft × 20.5 ft
  (Detailed in Detroit/Wyandotte shipyard registers) (Naval Marine Archive)

History

Operational History

• Operated under George Hall Coal Co.
• Functioned as a bulk-carrier, primarily hauling coal and aggregate materials
  (Again confirmed in the shipyard’s 1914 build ledger) (Naval Marine Archive)

Significant Incidents

Later Life & Final Fate

Year	Event
1963	Converted into a barge—engines removed, repurposed for non-self-propelled work
1968	Scuttled intentionally to serve as a temporary breakwater in Two Rivers, Wisconsin (Facebook, Naval Marine Archive)

• Lloyd’s Register lists Adrian Iselin (No. 212089) with full specifications as of 1914 and notes its final marine role (Internet Archive)

Final Disposition

Assessment & Significance

• Showcases early 20th-century steel canalers, a deliberate transition from wooden schooners to steel-hulled bulk carriers.
• Reflects adaptive reuse—converted into a barge and then repurposed as harbor infrastructure.
• The ship’s ultimate scuttling to serve as a breakwater demonstrates historical shoreline engineering practices.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Adrian Iselin is confirmed to be scuttled and serves as a breakwater in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Accessibility for divers may vary based on local conditions and regulations.

Resources & Links

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The Adrian Iselin represents an important piece of maritime history, illustrating the evolution of shipping technology and the adaptive reuse of vessels in the Great Lakes region.