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.

Identification Card (Site Style)

Description

The CONGRESS began life in 1861 as the DETROIT, a wooden-hulled propeller steamer designed for bulk freight carriage on the Great Lakes. Built by Peck & Masters of Cleveland, she was retrofitted in 1866 with oil-burning propulsion—the first vessel on the Great Lakes to test this innovative technology. Her versatility allowed her to serve both commercial trade and U.S. military logistics.

History

Construction and Early Career: Launched as the DETROIT in 1861, the vessel was operated by S.L. McKnight and partners out of Detroit, moving bulk cargo and merchandise.

Military Service: During the American Civil War, the vessel was chartered by the U.S. Quartermaster’s Department to transport supplies, demonstrating the adaptability of Great Lakes steamers for national service.

Innovation and Renaming: In 1866, following her conversion to oil-fuel propulsion, she was renamed CONGRESS. This marked the first adoption of oil-burning engines on the lakes, a technological milestone.

Final Incident: October 1868

• First Stranding: Grounded at Black River Island in heavy weather; freed, but hull compromised.
• Second Stranding & Fire: Ran aground again near Thunder Bay Island, where fire broke out aboard, quickly consuming her wooden hull.
• Breakup: Following the fire, wave action broke her remains apart. The vessel was declared a total loss, but no lives were lost.

Final Disposition

The CONGRESS was destroyed in shallow water, burned to the waterline, and broken up by storm waves. Conflicting reports suggested possible later records in 1873 or 1893, but these appear to be registry errors or different vessels. Her mixed cargo was lost with the wreck.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck has not been conclusively located. Any surviving remains are presumed scattered and buried beneath sediment near Thunder Bay Island, within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Notmars & Advisories

No active navigational hazards are associated with the site. The wreck lies within sanctuary waters, where all submerged cultural resources are federally protected.

Dive Information

Access: Boat
Entry Point: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Alpena, Michigan
Conditions: Variable visibility, seasonal thermocline, shallow depth near island
Depth Range: ~17 ft (5.2 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie / Alpena station
Permits: Required for artifact recovery or intrusive study (sanctuary regulations)
Dive Support: Available from Alpena-based charters and dive shops

Crew & Casualty Memorials

No casualties were reported. Crew names are not preserved in available documentation.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“After burning to the water’s edge at Thunder Bay Island, the CONGRESS went to pieces in the heavy seas. Her loss was complete, but all hands escaped.” — Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)

“Perhaps the most historically significant vessel known to have been lost in Thunder Bay is the steamer Congress. Built in 1861 and used as a Civil War troop transport, a newly introduced mode of creating steam by petroleum oil was tested in the ship in 1868 just a few months before it was wrecked on North Point on October 26.” — NOAA Sanctuary context (NOAA PDF)

“On October 22, 1868—while bound for Chicago with a mixed cargo of salt, apples, railroad iron, and stoves—the wooden steamer CONGRESS stranded and burned near North Point (Thunder Bay Island).” — *List of Shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary* (Wikipedia)

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

Originally enrolled as DETROIT (1861, Cleveland), later renamed CONGRESS in 1866. Official registry number has not been confirmed. Insurance and enrollment files may exist in 19th-century Detroit or Cleveland customs records.

Site Documentation & Imaging

The wreck has been modeled in 3D by Ken Merryman (3DShipwrecks). The model is interpretive, as no intact remains have been conclusively documented. The area falls under Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary protection.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – CONGRESS entry
• Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
• Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

References

• “CONGRESS (ex-DETROIT),” Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
• NOAA, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary context document (PDF)
• 3DShipwrecks, “Congress” model (Ken Merryman, 2021) (Sketchfab)
• Wikipedia, “List of Shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary” (link)

NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card