Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lavinia
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1847
- Builder: Unknown (likely on Lake Michigan)
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: Port Washington, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: Not available
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid-19th-century wooden schooner used for coastal or harbor trade. Her assignment to cobblestone cargo suggests involvement in infrastructure projects along the shoreline—transporting heavy materials for breakwaters or roadwork.
Description
Built in 1847, Lavinia served through the early to mid-1850s across Lake Michigan. In September 1858, caught in storm conditions off Port Washington, she struck a shoal and swiftly grounded. Unable to be salvaged, wave action broke her apart, and she was abandoned — a “hopeless case” to local authorities.
History
Stranded and wrecked near Port Washington’s shoals. Hull fragments were broken and scattered, marking the termination of her service.
Significant Incidents
- Struck a shoal during a storm, became stranded, and broke up — declared a total loss.
- No casualties reported.
Final Disposition
No modern archaeological survey or GPS-based documentation exists. However, her wreck likely lies buried in nearshore sediments off Port Washington—an ideal candidate for sonar detection or shoreline prospection.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The shoal where she wrecked remains charted, but no wreck-specific navigational markers exist. Given shallow depth, the remains represent a shallow-water wreck heritage site, with potential exposure depending on lake levels and sediment shifts.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lavinia-1847″ title=”References & Links”]
Built in 1847, Lavinia met her fate in September 1858 when she grounded off Port Washington, Wisconsin, during a storm. Loaded with cobblestone, she broke apart and was written off as a total loss. No casualties occurred, and her remains lie in shallow water—unrecorded by modern wreck surveys. This site presents an excellent opportunity for archival deepening and targeted field survey.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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