Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Duluth
- Type: Wooden screw-driven ferry
- Year Built: 1890
- Builder: Cleveland Dry Dock Co., Cleveland, OH
- Dimensions: Length 98 ft (29.9 m); Beam 29 ft 9 in; Depth 10 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 247 GRT; 163 NRT
- Location: Mid-Lake Huron between Port Huron, MI, and Kincardine, ON
- Official Number: US 157279
- Original Owners: Duluth & Superior Ferry Co., Port Huron & Sarnia Ferry Co.
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wooden screw-driven ferry, designed for both passenger and vehicle transport.
Description
Description
The Duluth was a two-deck wooden ferry built in 1890, featuring a compound steam engine and capable of carrying both passengers and vehicles across the Great Lakes.
History
History
Initially enrolled as Duluth, the vessel operated ferry services on Lake Superior before being renamed City of Cheboygan in 1909 and later City of Port Huron in 1924. It played a significant role in cross-river travel prior to the construction of the Blue Water Bridge.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Oct 9, 1890: Collided with a sand scow at St. Paul, MN.
- Nov 1890: Damaged after collision with Superior.
- April 16, 1895: Ownership transfer to Euclid Beach Park Co. of Cleveland.
- May 1905: Sold to Island Transportation Co.; operated in Cheboygan–Mackinaw areas.
- 1908: Underwent significant rebuilding.
- 1923: Final ownership by Port Huron & Sarnia Ferry Co., renamed City of Port Huron.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
- April 8, 1939: Sank at her dock in Port Huron, likely due to dock or structural failure.
- Post-sinking: Raised and sold in 1940 to interests in Kincardine, Ontario; repurposed as a lumber carrier.
- January 1940: While being towed across Lake Huron, she was scuttled by her new owners.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is believed to rest upright on the lakebed in moderate depth, though no surveys have confirmed its exact position. The archaeological potential is moderate, with the possibility of well-preserved hull elements in freshwater conditions.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”duluthcity-of-cheboygancity-of-port-huronus-157279″ title=”References & Links”]
Summary
The Duluth, rechristened City of Cheboygan and later City of Port Huron, served as a multi-purpose ferry across Lake Superior and Huron from 1890 until its scuttling in 1940. Its uncharted wreck site presents opportunities for historical research and underwater archaeological exploration.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →