Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Cottonwood
- Type: Wooden-hulled freighter or barge
- Year Built: 1918
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Driven ashore at Coppermine Point, Lake Superior, Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Cottonwood was a wooden cargo vessel, likely employed as a freighter or haulage barge. Though specific dimensions aren’t documented, she was typical of small-to-mid-sized stone-carrying vessels employed in Lake Superior trade in the early 20th century.
Description
Cottonwood was a wooden cargo vessel, likely employed as a freighter or haulage barge. Though specific dimensions aren’t documented, she was typical of small-to-mid-sized stone-carrying vessels employed in Lake Superior trade in the early 20th century.
History
Launched in 1918, Cottonwood transported bulk stone and other materials across Lake Superior’s ports. She was patrolling anchored near Coppermine Point when caught in a severe winter gale on December 2, 1926.
Significant Incidents
- Grounded at Coppermine Point during a severe winter gale on December 2, 1926.
- No casualties reported during the incident.
Final Disposition
Storm-driven hard aground at Coppermine Point, the vessel suffered hull breaches and was officially declared a total loss. However, significant salvage and repair efforts were undertaken in the spring of 1927, at a cost exceeding US $100,000.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Grounding occurred publicly in 1926; salvage commenced in Spring 1927. No modern wreck site exists.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”cottonwood-1918″ title=”References & Links”]
Although driven ashore and considered lost on December 2, 1926, the Cottonwood was salvaged and repaired into 1927, underscoring early 20th-century recovery efforts on the Great Lakes. The vessel resumed service rather than becoming a wreck. Her grounding at Coppermine Point is a notable case of successful salvage following winter storm damage on Lake Superior.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →