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

• Name(s): John J. Audubon
• Year Built: 1854
• Builder: G. & W. Jones, Black River (Cleveland), Ohio
• Vessel Type: Brig (wooden, square-rigged, two-masted)
• Gross Tonnage: 370 tons (old style)
• Dimensions:
  • Keel Length: 42 m (137 feet)
  • Beam: 7.9 m (26 feet)
  • Hold Depth: 3.35 m (11 feet)
  • Overall Wreck Length: 45 m (148 feet, measured on site)
• Owner (original): Rufus Winslow, Cleveland, Ohio
• Later Owners (by 1854 loss): E.G. Merrick & D.C. Pierce, Detroit, Michigan
• Captain: Henry Gadsden (maiden voyage)
• Final Resting Place: 5 miles off Presque Isle, Michigan, Lake Huron
• Coordinates: 45° 17.331′ N, 83° 20.351′ W
• Depth: 52 m (170 feet) to the lakebed
• Final Cargo: 401 bars of railroad iron

Vessel Type Description

The John J. Audubon was a classic brig — square-rigged on both masts — built to balance speed, stability, and cargo capacity. These vessels were central to mid-19th-century Great Lakes commerce, trading everything from grain to iron. Its hull shape was described as “approaching the clipper,” praised for its handling and sailing qualities.

History

Launched in April 1854 by G. & W. Jones at Black River, Ohio, the John J. Audubon was hailed as a fine, well-crafted brig, with positive press coverage in Cleveland, Buffalo, and Detroit. She was designed for the high-speed grain, timber, and manufactured cargo trade between growing Great Lakes ports.

That October, only months into her career, the John J. Audubon departed for Chicago carrying a cargo of iron railroad rails. Around 1:30 a.m. on 21 October 1854, she was struck amidships by the southbound schooner Defiance in dense fog off Presque Isle, Michigan. The collision cut a hole deep into her wooden hull, causing the brig to sink rapidly.

Amazingly, both crews survived. Defiance, mortally damaged, also sank several miles away. It was a disastrous night in what was described by newspapers as “the most costly shipping season on the lakes to date,” with 70 vessels lost that autumn.

Final Dispositions

The John J. Audubon came to rest upright on the lakebed about 5 miles off Presque Isle in 52 metres (170 feet) of water. Her hull remains relatively intact, preserving her cargo of railroad iron and her classic brig structure.

The site was studied by Dr. Robert Ballard and Jean-Michel Cousteau, who confirmed the wreck’s identity, and it is now recognized as a high-value archaeological site and dive destination for technical divers.

Located By & Date Found

• First documented: 1980s by Great Lakes divers
• Surveyed: by Ballard & Cousteau teams, 1990s
• Mooring Buoy: Maintained seasonally by local dive charters and maritime agencies

Notmars & Advisories

The wreck is charted on official hydrographic maps. No active Notmar warnings apply beyond standard diver cautions for entanglement, collapse risk, and depths requiring advanced/technical dive certifications.

Shore Dive Information

• Shore Access Location: Presque Isle, Michigan (boat dive required)
• Entry Type: Charter dive vessel
• Depth Range: 45–52 m (148–170 feet)
• Current & Conditions: Occasional currents, low temperatures, and seasonal thermoclines
• Points of Interest: Hull construction, iron cargo, brig masts, collision damage
• Skill Level: Advanced trimix or deep-certified technical diver only
• Safety & Emergency Info:
  • Nearest hyperbaric chamber: Alpena Regional Medical Center
  • U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie — VHF 16
  • Nearest 911 address: Presque Isle, Michigan
• Local Regulations: No artifact removal; preserve in situ
• Best Time to Dive: June–September
• Driving Directions: Google Maps to Presque Isle, MI
• Additional Resources: Technical dive charters in Alpena and Presque Isle

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Condition: Upright, largely intact, with visible collision damage
• Marine Life: Freshwater mussels, burbot, occasional lake trout
• Accessibility: Highly regarded deep/technical dive site with established mooring

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• NOAA Wrecks and Obstructions Database
• Great Lakes Maritime Database – BGSU
• Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• 3D Shipwrecks: Sketchfab Audubon Model

Conclusion

The John J. Audubon is a striking example of the speed-driven maritime trade of the 1850s. Only months after her celebrated launch, she was lost in a tragic collision off Presque Isle. Today, she stands as a preserved time capsule of the brig era on the Great Lakes, a rare intact shipwreck at technical-diving depths. Her story is a vivid reminder of the hazards and heroism woven into the lake’s maritime past.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

• Keywords: John J. Audubon, brig, 1854 collision, Lake Huron shipwreck, Defiance
• Categories: Great Lakes brigs, mid-19th-century wrecks, collision losses, rail iron cargo
• Glossary Terms: brig, square-rigged, collision, foundered, technical dive site

3D Models

Brig John J. Audubon by 3DShipwrecks on Sketchfab

John J. Audubon by Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary on Sketchfab

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