Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Aurora
- Type: Large wooden propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1887
- Builder: Murphy & Miller, Cleveland, OH
- Dimensions: 290 ft (88 m) × ~40 ft beam
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Harbor Island, Grand Haven, Michigan
- Original Owners: John Corrigan's Aurora Mining Company
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Aurora was a large wooden propeller steamer, notable for being the largest and most powerfully built of its kind on the Great Lakes at the time of its launch.
Description
Constructed from Kentucky oak and reinforced with iron straps, the Aurora was designed for transporting iron ore from the Gogebic Range to Cleveland, with coal and general freight on return trips. Its construction featured a unique oak-and-iron strap design, which is of archaeological interest.
History
Launched on August 23, 1887, the Aurora served primarily in the iron ore trade until it suffered a catastrophic fire in December 1898 while trapped in ice at Bois Blanc, burning to the waterline. After being rebuilt as a barge, it continued to operate until it was laid up and abandoned by 1927. The vessel was towed to Grand Haven, Michigan, where it burned again in 1932 and was left in shallow water.
Significant Incidents
- December 1898: The Aurora burned while trapped in ice.
- 1932: The vessel burned again at Grand Haven and was abandoned.
- December 2012: The wreck was rediscovered during low water conditions, with over 200 feet of its structure exposed.
Final Disposition
The Aurora was ultimately abandoned after its second fire in 1932. Its remains were partially exposed during low water in December 2012, revealing significant portions of its structure.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Currently, approximately 200 feet of the Aurora‘s ribs and keel are exposed, while the remaining structure is covered by shifting sands and vegetation. The construction matches the original build specifications, with oak frames visible.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”aurora-1887″ title=”References & Links”]
The Aurora serves as a significant historical artifact, illustrating the engineering practices of the late 19th century and the lifecycle of maritime vessels in the Great Lakes region.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
(Built 1887) – Corrigan’s Charcoal Steamer from Milwaukee
Identification & Vessel History
- Launched: August 23, 1887, by Murphy & Miller, Cleveland, OH
- Length: 290 ft (88 m) × ~40 ft beam
- At the time, the largest and most powerfully built wooden propeller steamer on the Great Lakes, constructed for John Corrigan’s Aurora Mining Company, Milwaukee. Built of Kentucky oak with 5″ iron straps bent around the bilge riveted into its hull.(linkstothepast.com)
- Primary Service: Iron-ore transport from Gogebic Range to Cleveland; coal and general freight on return legs.(michiganshipwrecks.org, FOX 17 West Michigan News (WXMI))
Fire & Conversion to Barge
- In December 1898, while trapped in ice at Bois Blanc (Detroit River), Aurora burned to the waterline.
- Rebuilt as a barge at a cost of ~$50,000, machinery salvaged and reused, reportedly powering the barge Australia, another Corrigan asset—a detail preserved in Herman Runge’s notes archived at Milwaukee Public Library.(FOX 17 West Michigan News (WXMI), michiganshipwrecks.org)
Abandonment & Rediscovery
- Laid up and idle by 1927, towed to Grand Haven, Michigan, where she burned again in 1932 and was left in shallow water along the north side of Harbor Island.(michiganshipwrecks.org, FOX 17 West Michigan News (WXMI))
- December 2012: Low Lake Michigan water exposed at least five shipwreck hulks; the largest was identified as Aurora by MSRA in collaboration with historian William Lafferty, maritime archaeologist Kenneth Pott, and others. Visible remains over 200 ft long confirmed its identity.(npshistory.com)
- Condition: Roughly 200 ft of ribs and keel exposed; the remaining ~90 ft covered by shifting sands and vegetation. Construction matches original build: oak frames at 21″ centers, wide straps visible.(michiganshipwrecks.org, FOX 17 West Michigan News (WXMI))
Visual Evidence
Exposed remains of the Aurora at Grand Haven, MI (Harbor Island)—showing rib structure and keel section.
Summary Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Built | 1887, Cleveland, OH (Murphy & Miller) |
| Type | Large wooden propeller steamer |
| Length | 290 ft (~88 m) |
| Conversion | Burned in 1898 → rebuilt as barge; machinery reused |
| Final Fate | Burned and abandoned at Grand Haven, 1932 |
| Rediscovered | Exposed during low water, December 2012 |
| Current Condition | ~200 ft exposed; remainder buried under sand |
Significance
- Engineering: A unique large wooden steamer built before iron hulls became widespread—its oak-and-iron strap construction is of archaeological interest.
- Industrial Lifecycle: Illustrates reuse of machinery, mid-career conversion to barge, and eventual obsolescence and abandonment.
- Historical Rediscovery: Exposed remains provide rare insight into steamer construction; also featured in maritime histories, with analysis by MSRA and Runge Collection materials.(npshistory.com)
Research Recommendations
- Runge Collection at Milwaukee Public Library
The collection includes vessel files of Aurora, including Corrigan ownership, machinery reuse, and conversion into Australia—catalogued in Herman Runge’s archives.(archive.org) - MSRA Reports and Dive Survey Logs
Contact MSRA for site survey data or dive logs documenting framework spacing and intact framing consistent with known build specs. - Local Newspapers (Grand Haven, 1932–1933)
Reports of harbor fire, vessel disposal, or salvage operations may be archived in Michigan newspapers. - Corrigan Company Records
May include refit contracts (1898 rebuild) and equipment reuse documentation, possibly filed with Milwaukee marine industry archives.