Green Bay (1869)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Green Bay
• Type: Wooden schooner-barge
• Year Built: circa 1869
• Builder: Likely Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: Not recorded; similar to contemporary schooners (<200 tons)
• Location: Docked at Chicago, Illinois

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Green Bay was classified as a wooden schooner-barge, likely used for transporting lumber or bulk cargo through the Green Bay and Chicago routes.

Description

This vessel was constructed in 1869 and was a typical example of 19th-century maritime trade vessels. It featured a single-deck wooden rig and was designed for regional transport.

History

The Green Bay was launched in 1869 and operated primarily in the Great Lakes region. It was caught in the Great Chicago Fire of October 8-10, 1871, which resulted in extensive damage to the vessel while it was docked.

Significant Incidents

• 1869: Construction and launching in Green Bay, WI.
• 1871 Fire Incident: Caught in the Great Chicago Fire, which extended to vessels and docklands.
• Aftermath: The hull was deemed irrecoverable and was not rebuilt.

Final Disposition

The hull of the Green Bay was lost in the fire, and it was subsequently removed from official listings.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There are no markings or underwater wreckage remaining from the Green Bay, as the basin has been redeveloped since the fire. There is no modern diving interest in the site, and remains are unlikely to exist due to urban reconstruction.

Resources & Links

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The Green Bay serves as a reminder of the collateral maritime damage caused by the Great Chicago Fire, one of North America’s most notorious urban disasters. Despite her loss, no crew harm was recorded, and little is known about her service history.