Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Cairo
• Type: Wooden schooner (two-masted)
• Year Built: 1854
• Builder: G. S. Weeks, Buffalo, New York
• Dimensions: Approx. 355 tons (old measurement) – no hull dimensions found
• Registered Tonnage: Approx. 355 tons
• Location: Near Death’s Door, Lake Michigan (Straits of Mackinac region)
• Coordinates: Not recorded
• Official Number: None known (not listed in registry records)
• Original Owners: Not recorded
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A wooden schooner, the Cairo was designed for freight transport across the Great Lakes, particularly for heavy or bulk materials.

Description

The Cairo was constructed in 1854 by G. S. Weeks in Buffalo, New York. Rated at approximately 355 tons under old measurement standards, she was designed for freight—particularly heavy or bulk materials—across the Great Lakes.

History

Although operational history remains undocumented in surviving records, the Cairo served at least until autumn 1863, when she embarked on her final voyage laden with salt and carboys of acid. The vessel was caught in a severe storm and driven ashore near Death’s Door at the tip of Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula—an area known for treacherous navigation—on 18 October 1863. The ship reportedly broke up in less than two hours after grounding; however, there were no fatalities among her crew.

Significant Incidents

• Grounded during a storm on 18 October 1863 near Death’s Door.
• Reportedly broke up in less than two hours after grounding.
• No fatalities among the crew; all survived the incident.

Final Disposition

Following the rapid structural disintegration, the Cairo was abandoned in place and declared a total wreck. Salvage operations carried out by the bark Michigan shortly after the incident recovered some gear and possible cargo remnants.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There is no known modern rediscovery of the wreck—Death’s Door is recorded as the general location, but no contemporary surveys or documented rediscoveries exist. The site lies in shallow nearshore waters, but conditions are likely hazardous, with scattered wreckage and limited preservation.

Resources & Links

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The Cairo exemplifies the perilous conditions of late-season navigation on Lake Michigan. The speed at which she was destroyed emphasizes the vulnerability of wooden cargo vessels in autumn storm conditions, especially in high-risk passages like Death’s Door.