Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: GEORGE L. DUNLAP
- Type: Wooden Sidewheel Steamer
- Year Built: 1864
- Builder: W.H. Wolf, Fort Howard, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Length: 185 ft (56.4 m); Beam: 23 ft (7.0 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft (3.0 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 436 tons
- Location: Bay City, Michigan
- Official Number: 10347
- Original Owners: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The GEORGE L. DUNLAP was a wooden sidewheel steamer, designed for passenger and package freight transport on the Great Lakes.
Key Features of Sidewheel Steamers:
- Operated using large paddle wheels on the sides
- Primarily used for passenger and package freight service
- Designed for speed and maneuverability on shorter routes
- Less suited for winter operations due to ice damage risks
At 185 feet in length and 436 gross tons, the GEORGE L. DUNLAP was a mid-sized steamer, serving ports along the shores of Lake Huron.
Description
The GEORGE L. DUNLAP was a workhorse of the Great Lakes shipping industry, transporting passengers and cargo for over 16 years before succumbing to ice damage in 1880.
History
The GEORGE L. DUNLAP was built in Fort Howard, Wisconsin, by W.H. Wolf for passenger and package freight service.
- 1864: Built in Fort Howard, Wisconsin, by W.H. Wolf for passenger and package freight service.
- 1880, November 20: Cut by ice in Saginaw Bay while carrying supplies for lumber camps.
- 1880, Late November: Returned to Bay City, but foundered at the dock.
- 1881: Laid up for possible repair but eventually abandoned.
Significant Incidents
- The vessel was traveling from Bay City, Michigan, to supply northern lumber camps.
- Ice cut through the wooden hull, causing heavy leakage.
- The crew dumped nearly all the cargo overboard to lighten the load.
- Despite their efforts, the steamer barely made it back to its dock in Bay City.
- It foundered at the dock, with water reaching the decks.
- Though considered for repair, it was ultimately abandoned and left to deteriorate.
Final Disposition
The GEORGE L. DUNLAP was lost on November 20, 1880, when ice punctured its hull above the ice plating, causing heavy flooding.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the GEORGE L. DUNLAP‘s wreck remains being discovered or documented.
Since it foundered at the dock in Bay City, its remains have been salvaged or deteriorated over time.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”george-l-dunlap-us-10347″ title=”References & Links”]
The GEORGE L. DUNLAP was a well-used sidewheel steamer that fell victim to the hazards of ice navigation in the Great Lakes.
Despite a desperate effort to save the vessel, it ultimately foundered at its dock and was abandoned.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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