Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Great Western
- Type: Wooden-hulled paddle-wheel steamship
- Year Built: Late 1830s
- Builder: Unknown, likely in the Great Lakes region
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: Lake St. Clair
- Coordinates: Exact resting place unknown and uncharted
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Overview
- Name: Great Western
- Type: Wooden-hulled paddle-wheel steamship
- Built: Late 1830s, likely in the Great Lakes region
- Purpose: Passenger transport across Lake St. Clair and connecting waterways
Description
Final Voyage & Fire Incident – September 1, 1839
- While crossing Lake St. Clair, the Great Western caught fire.
- Initially thought extinguished, the fire erupted again, ultimately consuming the vessel.
- All passengers and crew were rescued safely—no lives were lost.
- The vessel was declared a total loss, and her hull sank or was abandoned. Historical sources note it “took fire while crossing Lake St. Clair” in 1839.
History
Wreck Site & Condition
- Location: On Lake St. Clair — exact resting place unknown and uncharted
- Condition: Wooden hull likely destroyed by fire and subsequently sank or washed ashore. No identifiable remains or navigational hazards formally documented.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Fire incident on September 1, 1839, leading to total loss of the vessel.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The Great Western was declared a total loss after the fire incident. The exact location of the wreck is unknown, and no identifiable remains have been documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is uncharted, and the condition of the vessel is presumed to be non-existent due to the fire and subsequent sinking or washing ashore.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”great-western-1839″ title=”References & Links”]
Historical Significance
As a pioneering paddle-wheeler operating during the infancy of steam navigation, the Great Western exemplifies early innovation in passenger transport across the Great Lakes. Her dramatic fire and total loss on September 1, 1839, underscore both the challenges of steam-era vessel safety and the evolution of maritime rescue protocols. Despite the absence of archaeological remains, unraveling her story would illuminate early steamship design, lake travel, and emergent marine safety responses in the 1830s.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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