Granada (1886)

Explore the remains of the Granada, a wooden cargo vessel lost in Lake Superior during a storm in 1886, with a rich history in the iron ore trade.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Granada
  • Type: Cargo Vessel
  • Year Built: 1886
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions:
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Location: Lake Superior, near Superior harbor

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

  • A wooden cargo vessel—likely a schooner or schooner-barge—engaged in the iron ore trade on Lake Superior.

Description

Granada was a late-19th century Great Lakes cargo vessel carrying iron ore when she sprang a leak in a storm on Lake Superior in 1886. Set ashore to avoid sinking, she was abandoned and declared a total loss—crew safe.

History

  • Built circa 1886, Granada was engaged in the iron ore trade.
  • During a severe storm, she sprang a leak under the burden of a heavy cargo of iron ore.
  • She was intentionally run ashore to prevent sinking in open water—grounded along the Superior shoreline.
  • No crew fatalities were recorded; all hands survived.
  • The vessel was lost in the grounding; she did not sink in deep water, but was abandoned after being set ashore.

Significant Incidents

  • Loss Date: Autumn storm in 1886 (specific date not recorded).
  • Cargo at Loss: Heavy load of iron ore.

Final Disposition

  • After being beached, Granada was declared a total loss. No salvage or recovery records are available.
  • The hull likely broke up or was scavenged over time along the shore; no confirmed modern wreck identification exists.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Due to limited documentation, her final resting location remains unknown and no modern survey or dive records exist. Focused archival searches may yield additional context, but physical trace is unlikely.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”granada-1886″ title=”References & Links”]

Research gaps include the absence of builder name, owner, official number, or master identified in summary listings. Local newspapers from Superior, WI or Duluth, MN (late 1886) might have local reports of the grounding and cargo insurance claims.

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.

(built circa 1886; lost in Lake Superior, around Superior harbor area)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Granada
  • Approximate Build Year: 1886 (exact yard and official number unrecorded)
  • Region: Lake Superior, likely near Superior or Wisconsin shore
  • Cargo at Loss: Heavy load of iron ore
  • Loss Date: Autumn storm in 1886 (specific date not recorded)

Vessel Type

  • A wooden cargo vessel—likely a schooner or schooner-barge—engaged in the iron ore trade on Lake Superior.

Circumstances of Loss

  • During a severe storm, Granada sprang a leak under the burden of a heavy cargo of iron ore.
  • She was intentionally run ashore to prevent sinking in open water—grounded along the Superior shoreline.
  • No crew fatalities were recorded; all hands survived.
  • The vessel was lost in the grounding; she did not sink in deep water, but was abandoned after being set ashore.

Final Disposition

  • After being beached, Granada was declared a total loss. No salvage or recovery records are available.
  • The hull likely broke up or was scavenged over time along the shore; no confirmed modern wreck identification exists.

Summary Table

FieldDetail
Vessel NameGranada
Builtca. 1886 (wooden cargo vessel)
Vessel TypeSchooner or schooner-barge
CargoIron ore
Loss DateAutumn 1886 (rough estimate)
Loss LocationLake Superior, near Superior harbor
CauseSprung leak in storm; intentionally grounded
Crew & CasualtiesCrew survived; no loss of life recorded
Final ConditionWrecked ashore; total loss
Wreck LocatedNot documented in modern records

Research Notes & Recommendations

  • Documentation gaps: No builder name, owner, official number, or master identified in summary listings.
  • Archival search suggestions:
    • Local newspapers from Superior, WI or Duluth, MN (late 1886) might have local reports of the grounding and cargo insurance claims.
    • Superior harbor authority logs or marine project files may document beaching events or wreck removal efforts.
    • U.S. federal registry files or marine casualty records for 1886 could provide owner and vessel details.
  • Physical site speculation: Shoreline erosion and development likely removed or buried any remains long ago; archaeological survey would be low priority unless archival data offers coordinates.

Conclusion

Granada was a late‑19th century Great Lakes cargo vessel carrying iron ore when she sprang a leak in a storm on Lake Superior in 1886. Set ashore to avoid sinking, she was abandoned and declared a total loss—crew safe. Due to limited documentation, her final resting location remains unknown and no modern survey or dive records exist. Focused archival searches may yield additional context, but physical trace is unlik

granada-1886 1886-11-25 20:11:00