Henrietta – Lake Superior Scow Shipwreck (1935)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Henrietta
• Type: Scow or Barge
• Year Built: 1879
• Builder: Duluth, Minnesota
• Dimensions: 112 ft (34.14 m); 22 ft;
• Registered Tonnage:
• Depth at Wreck Site: 10 m / 33 ft
• Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, off Mission Island

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Identification

• Name: Henrietta (designation tentative; identified forthcoming)
• Type: Scow or barge (undetermined configuration)
• Year Built: 1879
• Construction: Wood
• Dimensions: 112 ft length × 22 ft beam
• Built At: Duluth, Minnesota
• Registration: Not currently found in official Canadian or U.S. marine registries

Description

Wreck Site & Disposition

• Final Disposition: Scuttled (intentionally sunk)
• Location: Thunder Bay “Ship Graveyard”, off Mission Island, Ontario (Lake Superior)
• Depth: Estimated 10–18 m (33–60 ft)
• Orientation: Reported upright; partially buried in sediment
• Structure Condition:
  • Intact lower hull
  • Upper hull largely deteriorated or stripped
  • Framing and keel preserved in cold freshwater
  • No deckhouse or machinery remains visible

History

Service & Operational History

• Likely employed as a freight scow, canal barge, or harbor-service vessel in the western Great Lakes.
• No definitive operational records yet recovered. May have transported bulk materials or been used in dredging support operations in or near Duluth and Thunder Bay.
• Similar vessels were often decommissioned after 30–40 years of use and scuttled deliberately.

Significant Incidents

Significant Incidents

• Scuttled intentionally as part of the Thunder Bay Ship Graveyard.

Final Disposition

Final Disposition

The Henrietta was scuttled intentionally, contributing to the collection of vessels in the Thunder Bay Ship Graveyard.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is reported to be upright and partially buried in sediment, with an intact lower hull but a largely deteriorated upper hull. Visibility and accessibility may vary based on local conditions.

Resources & Links

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Historical & Archaeological Significance

Henrietta is a rare surviving example of a wooden scow or barge from the late 19th century. Her presence in Thunder Bay’s scuttled fleet reflects the economic shift and obsolescence of such utility vessels after steel-hulled tugs and powered barges became dominant. Studying her remains offers a unique look at the utilitarian craft that supported harbor construction, dredging, and bulk transport in Great Lakes industry.