Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Hercules (1917)

Explore the wreck of the Hercules, a wooden tugboat scuttled in 1926, resting in Lake Minnetonka. A site of historical significance for divers and snorkelers alike.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Hercules
  • Type: Tug
  • Year Built: 1917
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions: Length: 50 ft (15.2 m); Width: 12.5 ft (3.8 m); Depth: Not documented
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 12 m / 40 ft
  • Location: North of Big Island, Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota
  • Official Number: Not Applicable

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Hercules was a wooden tugboat designed to assist and support the Twin City Rapid Transit Company (TCRTC) fleet of passenger boats on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. Tugboats like the Hercules played a crucial role in maintaining operations, including towing and maneuvering vessels.

Description

Built in 1917, the Hercules was an essential support vessel for the TCRTC boats, including the Como, Minnehaha, and White Bear, which provided passenger services on Lake Minnetonka. As the streetcar boat era declined, the Hercules was decommissioned and deliberately sunk in 1926. Prior to scuttling, its superstructure and machinery were removed, leaving only the wooden hull and deck.

The Hercules was scuttled as part of a larger pattern of retiring vessels no longer needed for passenger operations. The site of its sinking, near Big Island, became a final resting place for this piece of transportation history.

History

The wreck lies in 40-50 ft (12-15 m) of water north of Big Island in Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. The remaining structure includes the hull and deck.

Significant Incidents

  • The cabins and superstructure are gone, but the vessel’s name “Hercules” is still visible near the bow.
  • The stern sits elevated off the lake bottom, allowing part of the rudder to remain visible.

Final Disposition

The Hercules wreck is part of documented cultural resources in Lake Minnetonka. Efforts by historians and local preservation groups have highlighted its role in supporting the TCRTC fleet and its connection to Minnesota’s transportation heritage.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is accessible for recreational divers. Due to its location in relatively shallow water, it is also of interest to snorkelers and underwater historians. Visitors should respect the wreck as a cultural artifact and avoid disturbing the site.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”hercules-1917″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

As you explore the Hercules, remember to leave only bubbles and take only memories. Be the diver that makes a difference by respecting this historical site and leaving it better than you found it.

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.

Identification & Site Information:

  • • Name(s): Hercules
  • • Registry: Not Applicable
  • • Official Number: Not Applicable
  • • Vessel Type: Tug
  • • Year Built: 1917
  • • Year Sank: 1926
  • • Hull Material: Wood
  • • Dimensions:
  • • Length: 50 ft (15.2 m)
  • • Width: 12.5 ft (3.8 m)
  • • Depth: Not documented

Vessel Type

The Hercules was a wooden tugboat designed to assist and support the Twin City Rapid Transit Company (TCRTC) fleet of passenger boats on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. Tugboats like the Hercules played a crucial role in maintaining operations, including towing and maneuvering vessels.

Description

Built in 1917, the Hercules was an essential support vessel for the TCRTC boats, including the Como, Minnehaha, and White Bear, which provided passenger services on Lake Minnetonka. As the streetcar boat era declined, the Hercules was decommissioned and deliberately sunk in 1926. Prior to scuttling, its superstructure and machinery were removed, leaving only the wooden hull and deck.

The Hercules was scuttled as part of a larger pattern of retiring vessels no longer needed for passenger operations. The site of its sinking, near Big Island, became a final resting place for this piece of transportation history.

Final Dispositions

The wreck lies in 40-50 ft (12-15 m) of water north of Big Island in Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. The remaining structure includes the hull and deck.

• The cabins and superstructure are gone, but the vessel’s name “Hercules” is still visible near the bow.

• The stern sits elevated off the lake bottom, allowing part of the rudder to remain visible.

Located By & Date Found

The Hercules wreck is part of documented cultural resources in Lake Minnetonka. Efforts by historians and local preservation groups have highlighted its role in supporting the TCRTC fleet and its connection to Minnesota’s transportation heritage.

Notmars & Advisories

The wreck is accessible for recreational divers. Due to its location in relatively shallow water, it is also of interest to snorkelers and underwater historians. Visitors should respect the wreck as a cultural artifact and avoid disturbing the site.

Resources & Links

3D Model – Hercules 2021

Hercules 2021 by 3DShipwrecks on Sketchfab

Keywords, Categories, Glossary

Keywords: Hercules, Lake Minnetonka Shipwrecks, TCRTC, Wooden Tugboat

Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History, Transportation Support Vessels

Glossary: Tugboat, Scuttling, Big Island, Rudder, TCRTC

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