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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: City of Boston
• Official number: 4375
• Year built: 1863, Cleveland, OH (Stephens & Presley)
• Type: Wooden, single-propeller steamship—passenger & freight
• Decks: Two-deck structure with one mast; powered by engine from City of Superior (1857)
• Dimensions: 41.5 m (136 ft) × 7.9 m (25.8 ft) × 3.6 m (11.9 ft)
• Tonnage (old style): 392 tons
• Final loss location: ~6.4 km (4 mi) south of Frankfort, MI, Lake Michigan
• Loss date: 20 November 1873 (snowstorm)

Vessel Type

A mid-19th-century wooden screw steamer, built for mixed commerce and passenger service across Lake Michigan.

Description

Steam-powered single-propeller hull retaining auxiliary mast; engaged in mixed use post-1880s as a steam barge after rebuild.

History & Chronology

• 14 Mar 1863: Launched
• 29 May 1865: Tonnage adjusted to 298 GT
• 25 Apr 1866: Readmeasured at 431.6 GT
• 3 Aug 1867: Grounded in Chicago—released
• Nov 1868: Collision with steamer Milwaukee in Straits of Mackinac—sunk
• 1870: Raised from 38 m (125 ft), deepest Great Lakes salvage at the time; rebuilt as steam barge
• 10 May 1872: Collided with Sea Gull in Welland Canal
• Oct 1873: Disabled at Mackinac
• 4 Nov 1873: Stranded during snowstorm off Frankfort; broke in two at 15 ft depth; machinery salvaged; hull wrecked (Michigan Shipwrecks, Flickr, wrecksite.eu, Wandering Educators)

Final Disposition

Wrecked and abandoned; crew evacuated. Structure fragmented, with remains in shallow water and beach sand.

Located By & Date Found

Wreck exists ~60 m offshore in 2–3 m (4–8 ft) water. Visibility varies with sand shifts—can be snorkelled from Green Point Dunes Preserve (Flickr, grkids.com).

Notmars & Advisories

No modern navigational warnings; the shallow site may present a hazard to small watercraft but not officially charted.

Shore Dive & Snorkel Information

• Access: Via Green Point Dunes Nature Preserve, ~1 mile hike from parking
• Depth: Stern at 2.4 m (8 ft); bow may be <1.2 m (4 ft) submerged
• Visibility: Seasonal with up to ~6 m (20 ft) clarity; often shallow surf
• Points of Interest: Broken midship section, framing, cargo remnants (corn/flour), scattered machinery
• Skill Level: Beginner/intermediate; suitable for snorkelling
• Hazards: Shallow water, unpredictable surf, shifting sands—shirt exposure
• Best Time: Late spring to early fall
• Local Resources: Frankfort dive outfits, snorkeling guides, Great Lakes tourist info
• Safety: Use dive flags, check weather; no permit required but site respect encouraged

Resources & Links

• Michigan Shipwreck Research Association – wreck profile (Michigan Shipwrecks, grkids.com)
• “Snorkel at this Michigan Shipwreck…” (Green Point site info) (grkids.com)
• Detroit Free Press & Buffalo Commercial Advertiser coverage on 1873 wreck (Michigan Shipwrecks)

Conclusion

The City of Boston offers accessible insight into 19th-century steam commerce on Lake Michigan. Its shallower wreckage and proximity to shore make it an excellent educational snorkel site. As a once-modern steamer that faced rebuilds, deep salvage, and ultimately a snowstorm wreck, it encapsulates evolving maritime technology and Great Lakes navigational challenges of the 1800s.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary

• Wooden screw steamer | Snowstorm wreck | Snorkel dive site | Frankfort MI | Lake Michigan heritage | Shallow-water archaeology

city-of-boston-us-4375 1873-11-20 23:52:00