Escanaba US 130488

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Escanaba
• Type: Wooden-hulled three-masted bulk freighter and scow-barge steamer
• Year Built: 1866
• Builder: A. Anderson in Marine City, Michigan
• Dimensions: Length 282 ft (86 m); Beam 38 ft (11.6 m); Depth of hold 19 ft (5.8 m)
• Registered Tonnage: Approx. 1,500 GRT
• Depth at Wreck Site: 7.5 m / 25 ft
• Location: Coral Reef (Anxious Point Reef), Lake Michigan, off Grand Haven
• Official Number: 130488
• Original Owners: Goodrich Transportation Company, Chicago
• Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden-hulled three-masted bulk freighter and scow-barge steamer—purpose-built to carry iron ore on the Great Lakes.

Description

At 282 ft (86 m), the Escanaba was among the larger wooden freighters of her era. Powered by steam and equipped with auxiliary sails, she transported bulk ore from Upper Peninsula docks to Michigan and Ohio ports. Her stout build and considerable cargo capacity made her a common sight on heavy lake traffic.

History

After her 1866 launch, Escanaba regularly hauled iron ore from Escanaba, Michigan, to Lake Erie region steel docks. In the early summer of 1883, during a severe gale—described locally as one of the fiercest storms of the season—she departed with 850 tons of ore. While navigating near Grand Haven, she was driven onto a reef at Anxious Point (also called Coral Reef). The impact punctured hull plates and she filled rapidly. Despite efforts, she broke apart under wave action and came to rest on the submerged rock shelf.

Significant Incidents

• June 17, 1883: The Escanaba was blown onto Coral Reef during a severe storm, resulting in her sinking.

Final Disposition

Declared a total loss after breaking apart and settling on the reef. Hull remains scattered and partly buried beneath shallow water, with visible timber preserved in places.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck site is well-known, located on the reef approximately 1.5 miles (2.5 km) south of the Anxious Point lighthouse at Grand Haven. Portions of her remains, including ribs and hull framing, remain in depths between 15–25 ft (4.5–7.5 m). The site has been visited by divers and is periodically charted in local marine surveys.

Note: Divers are encouraged to practice NO-TOUCH documentation methods and to leave only bubbles, taking only memories.

Resources & Links

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The loss of Escanaba illustrates both the power of weather-driven wave action and navigational hazards along Lake Michigan’s western shoreline. Her remains serve as a tangible wreck diving opportunity, offering distressed hull structures and historical insight into iron-ore transport vessels of the late 19th century.