Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Alaska (Acorn)

Explore the wreck of the Alaska, a wooden schooner that succumbed to a storm in Lake Michigan, leaving a fragmented history beneath the waves.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Alaska (formerly Acorn)
  • Type: Wooden Schooner
  • Year Built: 1863
  • Builder: Port Dalhousie, Ontario
  • Dimensions:
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Location: Approximately 20 miles north of Beaver Island

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Alaska, originally named Acorn, was a wooden schooner typical of Great Lakes vessels in the mid-19th century. Schooners like the Alaska were designed for speed and cargo capacity, making them ideal for transporting goods across the Great Lakes. Built in 1863, the vessel was sturdy and well-suited to endure the rough conditions often encountered on the lakes. The schooner’s structure allowed it to handle bulk cargoes such as lumber, grain, and other essential commodities for the Great Lakes region.

Description

Built in Port Dalhousie, Ontario, in 1863, the schooner was first launched under the name Acorn. Over its service life, the vessel was renamed Alaska and continued to serve the Great Lakes region, transporting cargo between various ports. The Alaska exemplifies the schooner’s critical role in the economy of the 19th-century Great Lakes, providing reliable transport for goods across North America’s inland seas.

History

The Alaska met its end during a powerful storm approximately 20 miles north of Beaver Island, Lake Michigan. As the storm intensified, the vessel grounded on a shoal and sustained significant structural damage. Despite efforts to salvage or refloat the schooner, the relentless storm caused the Alaska to break apart, leaving the vessel scattered across the lakebed. The loss of the Alaska was a common fate for many schooners that encountered sudden storms in the unpredictable Great Lakes weather.

Significant Incidents

  • Grounded and broke up in a storm (specific date not provided).

Final Disposition

Rescue efforts were launched as the Alaska began to break up, but the challenging conditions made salvage nearly impossible. The combination of storm damage and grounding led to rapid deterioration, rendering the vessel unsalvageable. The remains of the Alaska were left at the site, a reminder of the risks schooners faced during severe weather on Lake Michigan.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Due to the storm and subsequent break-up, the remains of the Alaska are likely fragmented and scattered along the lakebed. Some portions may have been buried by sediment over time or dispersed by currents. The site’s location, north of Beaver Island, is accessible to experienced divers, though visibility and preservation conditions may vary, given the wreck’s exposure to open lake waters.

Resources & Links

The Alaska, once known as Acorn, serves as an example of the challenges and dangers faced by schooners on the Great Lakes. Its transformation from the Acorn to the Alaska highlights the vessel’s extended service life, yet even robust schooners could fall victim to the sudden and violent storms of Lake Michigan. The wreck’s resting place near Beaver Island remains a historical testament to the schooner’s critical role in Great Lakes trade and the perilous conditions of inland maritime navigation.