Gallatin

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Gallatin
• Type: Wooden schooner
• Year Built:
• Builder: Unknown
• Dimensions: Estimated 100–140 ft (30–43 m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: Unknown
• Location: Off Point au Pelee, Lake Erie (Canada)
• Coordinates: ~41°47′N, 82°41′W
• Official Number: Unknown
• Original Owners: Unknown
• Number of Masts: Two or three (estimated)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Gallatin was a classic wooden Great Lakes schooner, likely engaged in general cargo hauling during the 1880s. Built for stability and lake endurance, such vessels typically featured two or three masts and handled timber, grain, coal, or ballast. Her specific design and measurements are unknown but estimated based on contemporaries of the time.

Description

The Gallatin was a classic wooden Great Lakes schooner, likely engaged in general cargo hauling during the 1880s. Built for stability and lake endurance, such vessels typically featured two or three masts and handled timber, grain, coal, or ballast. Her specific design and measurements are unknown but estimated based on contemporaries of the time.

History

On April 23, 1882, during the start of the Great Lakes sailing season, the Gallatin foundered off Point au Pelee in Lake Erie. While the exact cause is unconfirmed, early spring conditions—including sudden storms, shoals, or hull fatigue—are suspected. Notably, all crew members survived, suggesting a nearshore abandonment or outside rescue. No record of cargo, origin, or destination survives in primary maritime listings.

Significant Incidents

• April 23, 1882: Schr. Gallatin founders off Point au Pelee, Lake Erie. Crew saved.

Final Disposition

The schooner was lost entirely by foundering. No salvage operations or material recovery is recorded. She likely sank in moderate to deep water and may have broken apart or scattered due to currents.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The Gallatin’s wreck remains undiscovered. No confirmed dive site or sonar survey has matched her identity to date. The suspected wreck site may lie within Point Pelee National Park marine zone. Any future investigation should comply with Canadian federal heritage protection and Parks Canada policy. No known hazards reported, but seasonal shoals and strong currents persist in the area.

Resources & Links

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Entire crew reported saved. No fatalities. Crew names not recorded in known public archives. Further research recommended via Leamington or Essex County regional newspapers (April 1882). The Gallatin remains a candidate for side-scan sonar or ROV exploration in the western basin of Lake Erie.