City Of Syracuse – Other Steamer Shipwreck (1920)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: City of Syracuse
• Type: Passenger steamboat (propeller-driven)
• Year Built: 1901
• Builder: Alonzo Springstead, Geneva, New York
• Dimensions: Length: 112 ft (34.1 m); Beam: 21 ft (6.4 m); Depth of hold:
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Near the village pier, Skaneateles Lake
• Original Owners: Skaneateles Railroad

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The City of Syracuse was a passenger steamboat designed for the transportation of tourists and locals on Skaneateles Lake.

Description

The City of Syracuse was the largest and most iconic steamboat on Skaneateles Lake, constructed specifically to meet the growing demand for passenger transport. It was designed to operate in tandem with the Skaneateles Railroad to serve tourists, vacationers, and locals traveling to various stops along the lake, including the Glen Haven Hotel, a popular resort destination.

History

The City of Syracuse regularly ferried passengers between the Village of Skaneateles, Glen Haven, and other lake landings. Its operations were synchronized with the railroad schedule, allowing seamless travel for passengers arriving by train. Known for its elegance and size, the City of Syracuse became a beloved symbol of Skaneateles Lake tourism during the early 20th century.

However, the rise of the automobile and the declining popularity of steamboat travel reduced passenger numbers. The closure of the Glen Haven Hotel in the early 1910s further diminished the demand for its services. The vessel was removed from service in 1915, marking the end of its operational career.

Significant Incidents

• Date Removed from Service: 1915
• Date of Final Destruction: November 19, 1920
• Cause: After being decommissioned, the machinery was scrapped in 1917, leaving the wooden hull behind at the village pier. The hull remained abandoned until 1920, when it was dynamited to break it apart, and the remains were left where they sank near the pier.

Final Disposition

The City of Syracuse was the last and largest steamboat to operate on the lake, serving as the crowning achievement of the steamboat era on Skaneateles. It became a symbol of a bygone era of leisurely lake travel tied to the development of tourism and local commerce.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Given the dynamiting of the hull, little of the original structure is likely intact, though submerged remnants may be identifiable in the area near the pier. The site is significant for its connection to the Skaneateles Lake steamboat era and could be of interest to maritime historians. The site is likely in shallow water near the village pier and could be surveyed for potential remains.

Resources & Links

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The City of Syracuse was the last and most iconic steamboat on Skaneateles Lake, marking the end of an era that helped shape the region’s economic and cultural identity. Though its physical remains are fragmented, the vessel’s story continues to captivate local historians and visitors, representing a time when steamboats were the lifeblood of transportation and tourism on the lake. Its destruction in 1920 reflects the broader decline of the steamboat industry as technological progress reshaped the landscape of transportation.