Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Gazelle (identity uncertain)
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built:
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage: Not documented
- Depth at Wreck Site: 6 m / 20 ft
- Location: Off Eagle Harbor, near Sawtooth Reef, Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan
- Coordinates: N 47° 27.430′, W 088° 19.270′
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: Not documented
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Gazelle is classified as a wooden schooner, a type of sailing vessel commonly used for cargo transport in the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century.
Description
The Gazelle recorded at Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw Peninsula, is listed in diver site indexes and GPS databases as a shallow schooner wreck. With coordinates at 47° 27.430′N / 88° 19.270′W, the wreck lies in approximately 20 feet (6 meters) of water off Sawtooth Reef. Its construction — a wooden hull and schooner rig — places it among the many small-to-medium cargo carriers operating across Lake Superior in the mid-19th century.
History
The Gazelle presents an archival challenge. A well-documented schooner of the same name grounded at Little Point Sauble, Lake Michigan, in 1867. The Keweenaw coordinates, however, clearly point to Lake Superior, suggesting one of two possibilities:
- A separate schooner named Gazelle was lost in Lake Superior, now largely forgotten in registry records.
- A clerical or diver log error led to the Lake Michigan Gazelle being misattributed to Lake Superior.
At present, no contemporary newspaper accounts or casualty lists confirm the Superior wreck, leaving its identity unresolved.
Significant Incidents
No recorded casualties. No known memorials or personnel lists associated with this wreck.
Final Disposition
Reportedly a shallow wreck off Eagle Harbor’s Sawtooth Reef, Lake Superior. Condition and site details remain largely undocumented; photographs or archaeological surveys are not yet available in public archives.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of 2025, no official archaeological survey, photogrammetry, or ROV imagery has been published for this wreck. Status: undocumented site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”gazelle” title=”References & Links”]
Divers should exercise caution near reef structures and shallow wreckage. The Gazelle remains an intriguing site for exploration, with its identity and history still shrouded in mystery.
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.
Identification Card (Site Style)
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: Not recorded
Registry: United States (presumed)
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
Builder: Unknown
Year Built: Unknown
Tonnage: Not documented
Home Port: Unknown
Owners: Not documented
Cargo on Final Voyage: Unknown
Date of Loss: Unknown (mid-19th century, presumed)
Cause of Loss: Unknown — possible grounding or foundering
Final Location: Keweenaw Peninsula, near Eagle Harbor, Michigan, Lake Superior
Coordinates: N 47° 27.430′, W 088° 19.270′ (Google Maps link)
Depth: ~20 ft (6 m)
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: Not recorded
Description
The Gazelle recorded at Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw Peninsula, is listed in diver site indexes and GPS databases as a shallow schooner wreck. With coordinates at 47°27.430′N / 88°19.270′W, the wreck lies in approximately 20 feet (6 meters) of water off Sawtooth Reef. Its construction — a wooden hull and schooner rig — places it among the many small-to-medium cargo carriers operating across Lake Superior in the mid-19th century.
History
The Gazelle presents an archival challenge. A well-documented schooner of the same name grounded at Little Point Sauble, Lake Michigan, in 1867. The Keweenaw coordinates, however, clearly point to Lake Superior, suggesting one of two possibilities:
- A separate schooner named Gazelle was lost in Lake Superior, now largely forgotten in registry records.
- A clerical or diver log error led to the Lake Michigan Gazelle being misattributed to Lake Superior.
At present, no contemporary newspaper accounts or casualty lists confirm the Superior wreck, leaving its identity unresolved.
Final Disposition
Reportedly a shallow wreck off Eagle Harbor’s Sawtooth Reef, Lake Superior. Condition and site details remain largely undocumented; photographs or archaeological surveys are not yet available in public archives.
Located By & Date Found
Reported in diver GPS logs and shipwreck indexes (20th century). Exact discovery credit is unknown.
Notmars & Advisories
None officially issued. Divers should exercise caution near reef structures and shallow wreckage.
Dive Information
Access: Boat required
Entry Point: Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Conditions: Shallow reef, variable visibility, surge possible
Depth Range: ~20 ft (6 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie
Permits: Required for artifact removal under Michigan law
Dive Support: Local charters operate out of Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No recorded casualties. No known memorials or personnel lists associated with this wreck.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Coordinates logged as N 47° 27.430′, W 088° 19.270′ identify a schooner wreck near Eagle Harbor, Michigan, traditionally labeled Gazelle. Its true identity has not been conclusively established.” — Diver wreck index notes (unverified).
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No definitive registry entries link the Superior wreck to a known Gazelle. Further research in U.S. Customs registers (Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Marquette) and Lloyd’s casualty lists is required to confirm identity.
Site Documentation & Imaging
As of 2025, no official archaeological survey, photogrammetry, or ROV imagery has been published for this wreck. Status: undocumented site.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Chronicling America – Historical Newspapers
- Michigan EGLE – Underwater Preserves
References
- Diver GPS records and wreck site logs (unverified).
- Great Lakes shipwreck indexes — listing of Gazelle near Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior.
- Registry comparison with Gazelle (1867 Lake Michigan loss).
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: Not located
Coordinates: N 47° 27.430′, W 088° 19.270′ (Google Maps)
Depth: ~20 ft (6 m)
Location Description: Off Eagle Harbor / Sawtooth Reef, Keweenaw Peninsula, Lake Superior
Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
Material: Wood
Dimensions: Unknown
Tonnage: Not recorded
Condition: Shallow wreck; identity uncertain
Cause of Loss: Undocumented
Discovery Date: Unknown (noted in diver GPS records)
Discovered By: Unknown
Method: Diver report
Legal Notes: Michigan Antiquities Act applies; protected heritage site
Hazards: Shallow reef, surge, timbers
Permits Required: Yes, for survey or artifact recovery
gazelle 1900-08-25 16:16:00