Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lexington
- Type: Sidewheel steam paddle vessel
- Year Built: 1838
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Approximately 10 miles north of Port Washington, Wisconsin
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Lexington was a sidewheel steamer—a paddle-driven model common in pre-Civil War era shipbuilding. Approximately 12 years old at her end, she featured twin paddle wheels and was powered by steam, used for passenger and cargo service on Lake Michigan.
Description
The Lexington was a sidewheel steamer—a paddle-driven model common in pre-Civil War era shipbuilding. Approximately 12 years old at her end, she featured twin paddle wheels and was powered by steam, used for passenger and cargo service on Lake Michigan.
History
- 1838: Constructed and entered service—likely transporting mail, passengers, and small freights along Lake Michigan
- Mid-June 1850: Encountered grounding approximately 10 miles north of Port Washington. The damage was severe enough to render her unfit for repair. Her engines and machinery were stripped and installed into the newer steamer Kaloolah. The hulk was condemned and abandoned or subsequently lost to Lake Michigan currents or decay (Wisconsin Shipwrecks, Wikipedia).
Significant Incidents
- No casualties recorded during the grounding incident.
Final Disposition
Post-grounding, the vessel was decommissioned, her engines reused in another vessel. The remaining hull was likely left to deteriorate, eventually breaking apart or sinking—if never salvaged, her remains would have settled offshore.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck, if still in existence, has never been officially located or surveyed. The shifting underwater topography and removal of valuable machinery in 1850 make her a scarce candidate for documentation or dive exploration.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lexington-1838″ title=”References & Links”]
The Lexington‘s career ended quietly for a vessel of her time—stranded miles offshore amid mid-summer conditions and salvaged for parts. Though her hull wasn’t preserved, her machinery lived on in the Kaloolah, continuing her legacy. While the site remains uncharted and undocumented, her story contributes to the early steam era history of Lake Michigan transport.
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: Lexington
- Type: Sidewheel steam paddle vessel
- Built: 1838
- Final loss date: Mid‑June 1850 (reported around 15 June)
- Location: Grounded approximately 10 miles north of Port Washington, Wisconsin, in Lake Michigan
- Loss type: Stranded and abandoned; machinery removed
- Casualties: None recorded
Vessel Type & Description
The Lexington was a sidewheel steamer—a paddle-driven model common in pre‑Civil War era shipbuilding. Approximately 12 years old at her end, she featured twin paddle wheels and was powered by steam, used for passenger and cargo service on Lake Michigan.
History & Final Voyage
- 1838: Constructed and entered service—likely transporting mail, passengers, and small freights along Lake Michigan
- Mid‑June 1850: Encountered grounding approximately 10 miles north of Port Washington. The damage was severe enough to render her unfit for repair. Her engines and machinery were stripped and installed into the newer steamer Kaloolah. The hulk was condemned and abandoned or subsequently lost to Lake Michigan currents or decay (Wisconsin Shipwrecks, Wikipedia).
Final Disposition
Post-grounding, the vessel was decommissioned, her engines reused in another vessel. The remaining hull was likely left to deteriorate, eventually breaking apart or sinking—if never salvaged, her remains would have settled offshore.
Located By & Discovery Status
The wreck, if still in existence, has never been officially located or surveyed. The shifting underwater topography and removal of valuable machinery in 1850 make her scarce candidate for documentation or dive exploration.
Notmar & Navigational Advisories
There are no recorded Notices to Mariners (Notmar) linking to her wreck. However, Lake Michigan shorelines in the Port Washington area remain environmentally variable; radar in that period wasn’t available, so early passengers and crew relied on local navigation or landmarks.
Resources & Links
- Wisconsin Shipwrecks Database: Documents her grounding ~15 June 1850, machinery salvage, eventual condemnation and abandonment (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- Wrecksite & other wreck registries: Confirm grounding location, machinery recovery, and fate (Wrecksite)
Conclusion
The Lexington‘s career ended quietly for a vessel of her time—stranded miles offshore amid mid-summer conditions and salvaged for parts. Though her hull wasn’t preserved, her machinery lived on in the Kaloolah, continuing her legacy. While the site remains uncharted and undocumented, her story contributes to the early steam era history of Lake Michigan transport.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary
- Keywords: Lexington sidewheel steamer, Port Washington grounding, 1850 Lake Michigan wreck
- Categories: Paddlewheel steamers, early 19th-century wrecks, machinery salvage
- Glossary:
- Sidewheel steamer: Paddle-driven vessel, with wheels mounted port and starboard
- Condemned: Officially declared unfit for service and decommissioned
- Machinery transplant: Process of installing engines or boilers from one vessel into another