Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Julia Palmer
- Type: Wooden-hulled steam-packet
- Year Built: 1836
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: Lake Superior
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: Unknown (claim of "145513" unverified)
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Julia Palmer was a wooden-hulled steam-assisted packet vessel that originally entered service as a fully-rigged sailing ship. Sources indicate she was converted to a steamer around 1839, making her one of the early hybrid vessels on Lake Superior. Propulsion included a low-pressure wood-burning steam engine; she was reported to require substantial amounts of wood fuel per voyage.
Description
Launched in 1836, the Julia Palmer operated as a passenger and freight vessel between ports on Lake Superior. By 1846–1847, she was captained by Benjamin A. Stanard and advertised as a steam-packet offering cabin and steerage accommodations.
She was active through at least October 1847, as confirmed by geological expedition records. A newspaper headline from December 1, 1847 in the Detroit Free Press titled “Julia Palmer sinking” indicates a possible marine casualty, though the full article remains inaccessible.
History
Unverified secondary sources claim the vessel exhausted her wood fuel while caught in a fall storm, leading the crew to burn interior furnishings to keep steam pressure. It is said she drifted nearly two weeks before grounding ashore, and was later recovered and repurposed as a dock structure. These claims remain speculative.
Significant Incidents
- Reportedly active until late November 1847.
- December 1, 1847 newspaper headline in the Detroit Free Press suggests a sinking incident.
Final Disposition
Wreck location unverified. No confirmed surveys or rediscovery reported.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Access: Not accessible
Entry Point: Unknown
Conditions: Unknown
Depth Range: Unknown
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie
Permits: Not applicable
Dive Support: Not applicable
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”julia-palmer-us-145513″ title=”References & Links”]
No crew list or casualty records located. No fatalities confirmed. Further research recommended via Find A Grave or local genealogical archives.
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.
Lead Image
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Other Names: None known
Official Number: Unknown (claim of “145513” unverified)
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Wooden-hulled steam-packet (converted from sailing ship)
Builder: Unknown
Year Built: 1836 (per secondary sources)
Dimensions: Unknown
Tonnage: Unknown
Cargo on Final Voyage: Passengers and freight (general cargo)
Date of Loss: Possibly late November 1847 (unconfirmed)
Location: Lake Superior (specific site unconfirmed)
Coordinates: Unknown
Depth: Unknown
Home Port: Unknown
Owners: Unknown
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: None reported
Description
The Julia Palmer was a wooden-hulled steam-assisted packet vessel that originally entered service as a fully-rigged sailing ship. Sources indicate she was converted to a steamer around 1839, making her one of the early hybrid vessels on Lake Superior. Propulsion included a low-pressure wood-burning steam engine; she was reported to require substantial amounts of wood fuel per voyage.
History
Launched in 1836, the Julia Palmer operated as a passenger and freight vessel between ports on Lake Superior. By 1846–1847, she was captained by Benjamin A. Stanard and advertised as a steam-packet offering cabin and steerage accommodations.
She was active through at least October 1847, as confirmed by geological expedition records. A newspaper headline from December 1, 1847 in the Detroit Free Press titled “Julia Palmer sinking” indicates a possible marine casualty, though the full article remains inaccessible.
Final Dispositions
Unverified secondary sources claim the vessel exhausted her wood fuel while caught in a fall storm, leading the crew to burn interior furnishings to keep steam pressure. It is said she drifted nearly two weeks before grounding ashore, and was later recovered and repurposed as a dock structure. These claims remain speculative.
Located By & Date Found
Wreck location unverified. No confirmed surveys or rediscovery reported.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Dive Information
Access: Not accessible
Entry Point: Unknown
Conditions: Unknown
Depth Range: Unknown
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie
Permits: Not applicable
Dive Support: Not applicable
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No crew list or casualty records located. No fatalities confirmed. Further research recommended via Find A Grave or local genealogical archives.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Mr. Whittlesey, of Wisconsin, came up in the Julia Palmer (the first steamer on Lake Superior) in October, 1847 …” — Michigan Geological Survey, Vol. VI (1893–1897)
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No verified registry number or enrollment records found. Claimed number “145513” unsubstantiated.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No NOAA survey, 3D model, or imaging known for this vessel.
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
References
- MigenWeb – Ships & Shipping, Chippewa County History
- Michigan Geological Survey Report, Vol VI
- Detroit Free Press – “Julia Palmer Sinking,” Dec 1, 1847 (clipping preview)
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None known
Official Number: Unknown
Coordinates: Unknown
Depth: Unknown
Location Description: Lake Superior (precise location unverified)
Vessel Type: Steam-packet / hybrid
Material: Wood
Dimensions: Unknown
Condition: Unknown
Cause of Loss: Possibly storm (unverified); speculative accounts suggest fuel exhaustion
Discovery Date: Not discovered
Discovered By: Not applicable
Method: Not applicable
Legal Notes: No registry or salvage filings located
Hazards: None reported
Permits Required: Not applicable