Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Colorado
- Type: Bark-rigged schooner
- Year Built: 1861 (sources vary; possibly 1857)
- Builder: Peck and Masters
- Dimensions: 147.90 ft (45.1 m); Beam: 30.50 ft (9.3 m); Depth of hold: 12.10 ft (3.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 503.44
- Location: Wind Point, Racine County, WI
- Coordinates: Latitude 42°48.094′N, Longitude 87°45.286′W
- Number of Masts: Three-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Type: Bark-rigged schooner
- Rig: Three-masted schooner-bark
- Propulsion: Sail
- Hull Material: Wood
Description
- Length: 147.90 ft / 45.1 m
- Beam: 30.50 ft / 9.3 m
- Depth of Hold: 12.10 ft / 3.7 m
- Gross Tonnage: 503.44
- Cargo at Loss: Coal for ballast
- Classification: A1 rated
- Declared Value: $20,500 (1861)
History
- Built in Cleveland, Ohio, and enrolled at Buffalo on May 6, 1861
- Operated as a bulk carrier primarily transporting coal and package freight across Lake Michigan
- Sailed under various owners; full enrollment records incomplete
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: October 28, 1863
- Cause: Grounding on Wind Point reef during upbound voyage
- Circumstances: Ran ashore 5 miles north of Racine, WI. Efforts to refloat the vessel by unloading coal failed. Cordage and sails were saved.
- Wreck Progression: Eventually slid off the reef and broke up in heavy surf
- Aftermath: Abandoned to underwriters. Sold at auction by Butters for $5,000. Winter storms in January 1864 destroyed the wreck before anything more than rigging could be salvaged.
Final Disposition
- Remains unlocated or unconfirmed. No formal archaeological documentation reported at present.
- Potential remains may exist buried near reef shoals off Wind Point, subject to sediment cover and disturbance.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- None officially noted; wreck occurred in heavily trafficked area but during early navigation period.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”colorado-1861″ title=”References & Links”]
The Colorado represents the vulnerabilities of early Great Lakes sail commerce — a well-built bark rigged schooner, highly rated and valued, but lost due to reef grounding in foul weather. Despite crew efforts and early auction salvage, the remains of the vessel were fully claimed by Lake Michigan storms. The site near Wind Point remains unconfirmed archaeologically, offering future potential for shallow-water survey.
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.
(1861–1863)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: Colorado
- Year Built: 1861 (sources vary; possibly 1857)
- Builder: Peck and Masters
- Location Built: Cleveland, Ohio
- Coordinates: Latitude 42°48.094′N, Longitude 87°45.286′W
- Nearest City: Wind Point, Racine County, WI
- Body of Water: Lake Michigan
- Depth: Site remains unspecified; presumed shallow reef near shore
- Lives Lost: 0
Vessel Type
- Type: Bark-rigged schooner
- Rig: Three-masted schooner-bark
- Propulsion: Sail
- Hull Material: Wood
Description
- Length: 147.90 ft / 45.1 m
- Beam: 30.50 ft / 9.3 m
- Depth of Hold: 12.10 ft / 3.7 m
- Gross Tonnage: 503.44
- Cargo at Loss: Coal for ballast
- Classification: A1 rated
- Declared Value: $20,500 (1861)
Service History
- Built in Cleveland, Ohio, and enrolled at Buffalo on May 6, 1861
- Operated as a bulk carrier primarily transporting coal and package freight across Lake Michigan
- Sailed under various owners; full enrollment records incomplete
Final Disposition
- Date of Loss: October 28, 1863
- Cause: Grounding on Wind Point reef during upbound voyage
- Circumstances: Ran ashore 5 miles north of Racine, WI. Efforts to refloat the vessel by unloading coal failed. Cordage and sails were saved.
- Wreck Progression: Eventually slid off the reef and broke up in heavy surf
- Aftermath: Abandoned to underwriters. Sold at auction by Butters for $5,000. Winter storms in January 1864 destroyed the wreck before anything more than rigging could be salvaged.
Located By & Date Found
- Remains unlocated or unconfirmed. No formal archaeological documentation reported at present.
- Potential remains may exist buried near reef shoals off Wind Point, subject to sediment cover and disturbance.
Notmars & Advisories
- None officially noted; wreck occurred in heavily trafficked area but during early navigation period
Resources & Links
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks – Colorado
- Peck and Masters Shipbuilding – Historical Registry (Cleveland Shipbuilders)
- NOAA Office of Coast Survey – Historic Charts near Wind Point
- HCGL Database – Enrollment Records
- Chronicling America – Search: “Schooner Colorado” 1863 Racine
Conclusion
The Colorado represents the vulnerabilities of early Great Lakes sail commerce — a well-built bark rigged schooner, highly rated and valued, but lost due to reef grounding in foul weather. Despite crew efforts and early auction salvage, the remains of the vessel were fully claimed by Lake Michigan storms. The site near Wind Point remains unconfirmed archaeologically, offering future potential for shallow-water survey.
Keywords & Categories
Region: Lake Michigan, Racine, Wind Point
Vessel Type: Bark, Wooden Sailing Vessel
Cause of Loss: Reef Grounding
Final Use: Commercial Coal Transport
Status: Lost, Not Located
Dive Difficulty: Unknown – likely buried or destroyed