Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Columbia
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven freighter
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Detroit, MI
- Dimensions: 186.6 ft (56.8 m); Beam 34.5 ft; Depth of hold 12.4 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 941 GRT, 680 NRT; payload capacity ~900 tons
- Location: Chicago harbor entrance or nearshore Lake Michigan
- Original Owners: Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad; Columbia Yacht Club
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller-driven freighter with two decks and two masts.
Description
Originally launched in 1888 as F. & P.M. No. 4, the Columbia was a wooden steam-powered freighter that served various Great Lakes ports. It underwent a significant rebuild in 1896, enhancing its capacity and upgrading its engine to 500 hp. The vessel was later renamed Pere Marquette 4 following a merger in 1901.
History
The Columbia was enrolled at Port Huron for the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad, operating routes on Lake Michigan, including Manistee, Ludington, Milwaukee, and Chicago. In 1923, it was struck by another vessel, Pere Marquette 17, near Milwaukee, leading to its salvage and repurposing. In 1924, it was converted into a floating clubhouse for the Columbia Yacht Club in Chicago, where it operated informally as Columbia.
Significant Incidents
- January 11, 1937: The Columbia burned in Chicago, resulting in total loss.
- After the fire, it was scuttled in Lake Michigan as a disposal measure.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the Columbia is believed to be located at the Chicago harbor entrance or in nearshore Lake Michigan. The condition of the wreck is that of a burned hulk, likely sunk intact, but the exact position remains undocumented. There are no known dive or sonar surveys conducted on the site, although archaeological potential exists for deep-water historical wreck mapping.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is currently uncharted, and its archaeological status is uncertain. There is potential for rediscovery through side-scan sonar surveys of the Chicago nearshore seabed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”columbia-f-p-m-no-4-pere-marquette-4″ title=”References & Links”]
The Columbia represents a significant era in maritime history, showcasing the transition from wooden inland steamships to steel infrastructure. Its unique post-service life as a yacht clubhouse is rare among Great Lakes vessels, highlighting adaptive reuse before its final disposal.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →