Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Alexandra (1902)

Explore the wreck of the ALEXANDRA, a wooden-hulled steamer that transitioned from coastal routes to Great Lakes service before its fiery end in 1927.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: ALEXANDRA
  • Type: Wooden-hulled propeller passenger and freight steamer
  • Year Built: 1902
  • Builder: Not conclusively recorded, built at Chatham, New Brunswick
  • Dimensions: Length: 97 ft (29.6 m); Beam: 24.6 ft (7.5 m); Depth of hold: 9 ft (2.7 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 201 tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 3.66 m / 12 ft
  • Location: Harbor off Government Dock, Little Current, Ontario, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
  • Coordinates: Approximately 12 m (40 ft) east of Government Dock

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

ALEXANDRA was a wooden-hulled propeller steamer built with two decks, intended for passenger service with additional package freight capacity. This style of vessel was widely used around the turn of the century on Canadian and Great Lakes routes.

Description

The vessel had an enclosed main deck that could carry wagons, livestock, and commercial cargo, while the upper deck included a saloon, dining room, and passenger facilities. The machinery and layout reflected typical coastal and lake-going steamers of the early 20th century, with robust but modest accommodations, suitable for regional trade.

History

ALEXANDRA was launched in 1902 at Chatham, New Brunswick, for Atlantic coastal passenger and freight runs. She regularly served Miramichi Bay and nearby communities, including Newcastle, Loggieville, and Escuminac. During summer, she was popular for excursion trips featuring music and dancing, reflecting a common dual-use passenger/freight design.

In 1924, ALEXANDRA relocated to the Great Lakes, joining routes between Little Current, Killarney, Gore Bay, and Cutler, Ontario. She continued operating on these inland routes, integrating well into local passenger and package freight services until her loss in 1927.

Significant Incidents

Significant Incidents:

  • On 19 December 1927, while laid up for the winter at Little Current’s Government Dock, ALEXANDRA caught fire and burned completely.

Final Disposition

On 19 December 1927, while laid up for the winter at Little Current’s Government Dock, ALEXANDRA caught fire and burned completely. The remains of the hull and boiler sank in place about 12 m (40 ft) off the dock in water between 9-12 m (30-40 ft) deep.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck site has been known since shortly after the fire, with modern divers confirming its position next to the Government Dock at Little Current. Divers should be cautious because of fragile, burned wooden structure and shifting debris.

Resources & Links

ALEXANDRA represents the versatility of early 20th-century Canadian passenger steamers, transitioning from coastal routes to Great Lakes service. Her final destruction in a harbor fire marks a common but dramatic end for many wooden steamers. Today, the accessible remains near Little Current continue to provide divers and historians with a window into this transitional era of maritime travel and trade.