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.
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