Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Illinois
- Type: Dredge barge
- Year Built: 1906
- Builder: Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Length 148 ft (45.1 m); Beam 36 ft (11.0 m); Depth 10 ft (3.05 m)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 10 m / 33 ft
- Location: Lake Michigan, off Chicago/Illinois shore
- Coordinates: 41° 50.106′ N, 87° 34.209′ W
- Official Number: 172342
- Original Owners: (Operator unknown) — used as sand dredge barge
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The *Illinois* was a non-self-propelled wooden-hulled dredge barge built in 1906 for use in sand-dredging operations.
Description
The *Illinois* was a non-self-propelled wooden-hulled dredge barge built in 1906 by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. for use in sand-dredging operations. Its hull measured 148 ft in length, 36 ft beam and 10 ft depth. The vessel comprised two primary sections: a working fore-deck and a barge-like sand receiving area. As a dredge barge, it lacked its own propulsion engines and was typically manoeuvred into position by tugs. According to site documentation, the dredging mechanism included a large three-bladed auger mounted on a boom and a 12-ft diameter centrifugal pump which would slurry the sand and water mixture to the barge deck. Many of the mechanical platforms remain on the wreck though the actual drive-motor components have been salvaged.
History
After her construction in 1906 (registered Official No. 172342) the vessel apparently entered service as a sand-dredge barge somewhere in Lake Michigan. Her exact operational career is poorly documented; the archive record summarises that she operated “sometime in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s.”
The final voyage is undocumented in detail. According to dive charter sources, the vessel sank (or was abandoned) and now lies in approximately 24-33 ft of water off the Chicago area, alongside the intentionally sunk barge Holly barge (which was sunk in 2000 as part of an artificial reef).
Significant Incidents
- The cause of loss of the *Illinois* is not definitively recorded.
- The site description notes that the vessel “is mostly disarticulated” and that much of her mechanical gear had been salvaged prior to or after sinking.
Final Disposition
No formal discovery date or discoverer is publicly documented. Recreational dive charter sources indicate the wreck site has been accessed in recent decades.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Access: Boat entry from local dive charter out of Hammond Marina (IN/IL) or Chicago shore.
Entry Point: Dive charter site lists embarkation at Hammond Marina.
Conditions: Shallow water (~24-33 ft/7-10 m), typically good for recreational diving and training; nearshore currents and visibility variable.
Depth Range: 24-33 ft (~7-10 m)
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan (Chicago), local dive-charter operators.
Permits: Standard state-waters recreational dive regulations apply; no special permit referenced in sources.
Dive Support: Charter operators.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”illinois-us-172342″ title=”References & Links”]
No documented crew list or casualties are referenced in the sources. If further archival dive records or insurance files are located, a crew manifest may be discovered.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Other Names: Francis T. Simons (original name)
Official Number: 172342
Registry: U.S.
Vessel Type: Dredge barge (wood hull)
Builder: Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Year Built: 1906
Dimensions: Length 148 ft (45.1 m), Beam 36 ft (11.0 m), Depth 10 ft (3.05 m)
Tonnage: (Not documented in available sources)
Cargo on Final Voyage: Sand (being dredged)
Date of Loss: Unknown (late 1920s or early 1930s)
Location: Lake Michigan, off Chicago/Illinois shore
Coordinates: 41° 50.106′ N, 87° 34.209′ W
Depth: Approximately 33 ft (~10 m)
Home Port: Illinois (U.S.)
Owners: (Operator unknown) — used as sand dredge barge
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: None documented
Description
The *Illinois* was a non‑self‑propelled wooden‑hulled dredge barge built in 1906 by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. for use in sand‑dredging operations. Its hull measured 148 ft in length, 36 ft beam and 10 ft depth. The vessel comprised two primary sections: a working fore‑deck and a barge‑like sand receiving area. As a dredge barge, it lacked its own propulsion engines and was typically manoeuvred into position by tugs. According to site documentation, the dredging mechanism included a large three‑bladed auger mounted on a boom and a 12‑ft diameter centrifugal pump which would slurry the sand and water mixture to the barge deck. Many of the mechanical platforms remain on the wreck though the actual drive‑motor components have been salvaged.
History
After her construction in 1906 (registered Official No. 172342) the vessel apparently entered service as a sand‑dredge barge somewhere in Lake Michigan. Her exact operational career is poorly documented; the archive record summarises that she operated “sometime in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s”.
The final voyage is undocumented in detail. According to dive charter sources, the vessel sank (or was abandoned) and now lies in approximately 24‑33 ft of water off the Chicago area, alongside the intentionally sunk barge Holly barge (which was sunk in 2000 as part of an artificial reef).
Final Dispositions
The cause of loss of the *Illinois* is not definitively recorded. The site description notes that the vessel “is mostly disarticulated” and that much of her mechanical gear had been salvaged prior to or after sinking.
Located By & Date Found
No formal discovery date or discoverer is publicly documented. Recreational dive charter sources indicate the wreck site has been accessed in recent decades.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted in public sources other than standard diver caution for shallow‑water wrecks in Lake Michigan nearshore.
Dive Information
Access: Boat entry from local dive charter out of Hammond Marina (IN/IL) or Chicago shore.
Entry Point: Dive charter site lists embarkation at Hammond Marina.
Conditions: Shallow water (~24‑33 ft/7‑10 m), typically good for recreational diving and training; nearshore currents and visibility variable.
Depth Range: 24‑33 ft (~7‑10 m)
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan (Chicago), local dive‑charter operators.
Permits: Standard state‑waters recreational dive regulations apply; no special permit referenced in sources.
Dive Support: Charter operators
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No documented crew list or casualties are referenced in the sources. If further archival dive records or insurance files are located, a crew manifest may be discovered.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The *Illinois*, whose wreckage is illustrated here, was a sand dredge that operated in Lake Michigan sometime in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s.”
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official Number 172342 is listed in the ship‑yard/building register for Manitowoc Shipbuilding under original name “Francis T. Simons”.
Site Documentation & Imaging
There is limited publicly‑available detailed underwater survey imagery of the *Illinois*. Dive‑charter site descriptions mention the remaining large centrifugal pump and auger boom components. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Newspapers.com
- Find A Grave
- 3DShipwrecks
References
- “Illinois Sand Dredge”. UAS Chicago Shipwrecks database.
- “Illinois And Holly Barge”. Double Action Dive Charters.
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Francis T. Simons
Official Number: 172342
Coordinates: 41° 50.106′ N, 87° 34.209′ W
Depth: ~33 ft (~10 m)
Location Description: Near‑shore Lake Michigan, Illinois, adjacent to Holly barge artificial reef
Vessel Type: Dredge barge (wooden)
Material: Wood hull
Dimensions: 148 ft × 36 ft × 10 ft
Condition: Mostly disarticulated; remaining machinery present
Cause of Loss: Unknown / abandonment
Discovery Date: Not documented
Discovered By: Not documented
Method: Recreational dive access
Legal Notes: Offshore state waters; no documented salvage claim
Hazards: Typical shallow‑water wreck hazards (entanglement, overheads)
Permits Required: None identified beyond standard recreational dive rules
illinois-us-172342
1930-11-21 11:13:00