Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Baltimore
- Type: Sidewheel Steamer
- Year Built: 1847
- Builder: A. C. Keating, Monroe, Michigan
- Dimensions: 174 ft (53 m); Beam 26.3 ft (8.0 m); Depth of hold 11.9 ft (3.6 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 513.78 tons
- Location: Sheboygan Harbor, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: 43° 44.838′ N, 87° 42.163′ W
- Original Owners: Capt. McKnight; registered at Detroit, Michigan
- Number of Masts: Single mast
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden sidewheel steamer for passengers and package freight.
Description
The Baltimore was a wooden-hulled, single-masted sidewheel steamer built for mixed cargo and passengers, primarily on the Lake Michigan–Great Lakes package freight route. Built of traditional heavy oak framing and planking, she carried a cargo of approximately 1,000 bushels each of corn and flour along with general supplies at the time of loss.
History
Operated by Capt. McKnight from Detroit, the Baltimore served the passenger and freight trade, including stops at intermediate ports on northern Lake Michigan and routes toward Sault Ste. Marie. No specific crew names or casualty lists survive, and passenger manifests are not extant. There were no fatalities recorded in the accident.
Significant Incidents
- On 17 September 1855, departing Sheboygan bound for Sault Ste. Marie, the Baltimore weathered a severe gale. Having turned back, she anchored in Sheboygan Harbor where a wave shattered the forward cabin and toppled a funnel.
- When her anchor cable parted, she struck bottom and was driven ashore between the South Pier and Kirkland’s pier. Intense wave action broke the hull apart, destroying the vessel.
Final Disposition
A subsequent account notes the remains—including hull timbers, engines, boilers, fixtures, and cargo—were salvaged and purchased by W. King and C. Ramb of Milwaukee, then scrapped.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There is no known archaeological identification or active dive site linked with the Baltimore. The wreck has not been located or formally documented underwater in dive records or marine surveys.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”baltimore-1847″ title=”References & Links”]
The Baltimore stands as an early example of mid-19th century sidewheel transport on Lake Michigan. While no lives were lost, the vessel succumbed to powerful autumn gales in a harbor known for hazardous conditions. Her wreck has yet to be located or examined archaeologically. Further archival research and survey effort might clarify her final resting place—and potentially expand our understanding of early steam-powered traffic on the Great Lakes.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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