Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Dardanelles
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1856
- Builder: Cleveland, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 308 gross tons
- Location: Approximately 15 miles north of Presque Isle, Michigan
- Coordinates: Not documented
- Official Number: Not documented
- Original Owners: Buffalo interests
- Number of Masts: Not documented
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid-19th-century wooden propeller steamer, built for hauling coal and other bulk freight across inland waterways such as Lake Huron.
Description
Constructed in Cleveland in 1856 for Buffalo interests, the Dardanelles was a 308 GRT (gross register ton) wooden vessel fitted with a screw propeller—an advanced configuration for the era. She carried coal on the Upper Great Lakes route between Presque Isle and Ontario ports.
History
Entering service in the late 1850s, Dardanelles regularly transported coal from Michigan to ports like Buffalo. In late October 1861, during a severe storm approximately 15 miles north of Presque Isle, she stranded on submerged reef or shoal. Though storm-driven stranding was common, what stands out is the attempted salvage: a nearby tug crew reportedly recovered part of her equipment, and some records optimistically speculated that she “may be got off later.” However, by January 1862 she was classified a total loss. It remains unclear if any refloating was achieved.
Significant Incidents
- Caught in storm-force winds, stranded on reef or shoal, and wrecked.
- A salvage tug made attempts to recover the vessel.
- Classified as a total loss by January 1862.
Final Disposition
Remained wrecked on the reef; officially declared a loss by early 1862. No records confirm her salvage or refloating—likely dismantled in place.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There is no record of modern rediscovery or debris mapping. The wreck has not been located by underwater archaeologists or recreational divers.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”dardanelles-1856″ title=”References & Links”]
The Dardanelles serves as an important example of early propeller-driven steamers that pioneered coal transportation in the Great Lakes. Her stranding in a storm and subsequent wreck demonstrate both the capabilities and risks associated with the transition from sail to steam. The fact that salvage was considered highlights the vessel’s perceived value—but ultimately, nature prevailed. Her final resting place remains unknown, viewing Dardanelles as a time capsule of mid-19th-century maritime innovation and adversity in Lake Huron.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Dardanelles (sometimes recorded as Dalhousie)
- Former Names: None
- Official Number: Not documented
- Date Built & Launched: 1856, Cleveland, Ohio (steam-propeller barge) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, en.wikipedia.org)
- Tonnage & Dimensions: Propeller-driven vessel, 308 gross tons (374 annotated in some registers) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer used for bulk freight (coal) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cargo at Loss: Coal (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Date Lost: Late October 1861 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Place of Loss: Approximately 15 miles north of Presque Isle, Michigan—Lake Huron (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Circumstance: Caught in storm-force winds, stranded on reef or shoal, and wrecked. A salvage tug made attempts, with at least one source noting the vessel “may be got off later.” (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Vessel Type
A mid‑19th-century wooden propeller steamer, built for hauling coal and other bulk freight across inland waterways such as Lake Huron.
Description
Constructed in Cleveland in 1856 for Buffalo interests, the Dardanelles was a 308 GRT (gross register ton) wooden vessel fitted with a screw propeller—an advanced configuration for the era. She carried coal on the Upper Great Lakes route between Presque Isle and Ontario ports.
History
Entering service in the late 1850s, Dardanelles regularly transported coal from Michigan to ports like Buffalo. In late October 1861, during a severe storm approximately 15 miles north of Presque Isle, she stranded on submerged reef or shoal. Though storm-driven stranding was common, what stands out is the attempted salvage: a nearby tug crew reportedly recovered part of her equipment, and some records optimistically speculated that she “may be got off later.”However, by January 1862 she was classified a total loss. It remains unclear if any refloating was achieved. (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Final Disposition
Remained wrecked on the reef; officially declared a loss by early 1862. No records confirm her salvage or refloating—likely dismantled in place.
Located By & Date Found
There is no record of modern rediscovery or debris mapping. The wreck has not been located by underwater archaeologists or recreational divers.
Notations & Advisories
Likely poses a hazard to navigation in deeper waters offshore Presque Isle. No known navigation markers or regulatory charts have recorded her remains.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – Dalhousie/Dardanelles (1856–1861), wreck off Presque Isle (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The Dardanelles serves as an important example of early propeller-driven steamers that pioneered coal transportation in the Great Lakes. Her stranding in a storm and subsequent wreck demonstrate both the capabilities and risks associated with the transition from sail to steam. The fact that salvage was considered highlights the vessel’s perceived value—but ultimately, nature prevailed. Her final resting place remains unknown, viewing Dardanelles as a time capsule of mid‑19th-century maritime innovation and adversity in Lake Huron.
Suggested Keywords & Glossary Terms: screw propeller steamer, coal barge, Lake Huron wreck, Presque Isle stranding, mid‑19th‑century steam freighter
Suggested Categories:
Great Lakes shipwrecks | Lake Huron steam vessels | storm-driven wrecks | under-documented wrecks