Louisville (1853)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Louisville
• Type: Wooden screw steamer, passenger and package freight
• Year Built: 1853
• Builder: James Carrick, Buffalo, New York
• Dimensions: 137 ft 5 in (41.9 m) × 25 ft 6 in (7.8 m) × 11 ft 2 in (3.4 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 366.02 tons (old style); ~3,500 barrel capacity
• Depth at Wreck Site: 18 m / 60 ft
• Location: Off Calumet, Illinois
• Coordinates: 41° 46.388′ N, 087° 20.284′ W
• Official Number: Not recorded (pre-1867 registry)
• Original Owners: Philo Chamberlin & John H. Crawford (1854); Northern Transportation Co. (1856)
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Louisville was among the new generation of screw-propelled steamers that began replacing sidewheel steamers on the Great Lakes in the 1850s. Built in Buffalo in 1853 with two decks for both freight and passengers, she was fitted with a Shepard Iron Works high-pressure single-cylinder engine driving a single screw. With capacity for approximately 3,500 barrels, she was optimized for package freight while maintaining limited passenger accommodations.

Description

The Louisville was a wooden screw steamer designed for passenger and package freight service. She featured a high-pressure single-cylinder engine and was built to accommodate both freight and a limited number of passengers.

History

• 20 August 1853 – Enrolled at Ogdensburg, NY for service between Lake Ontario and Lake Michigan ports.
• 21 September 1854 – Ownership transferred to Philo Chamberlin & John H. Crawford.
• 31 May 1856 – Northern Transportation Co. of Ogdensburg acquired the vessel.
• 10 October 1856 – Caught fire at dock in Ogdensburg and burned to the waterline; cargo largely saved. Hull repaired and returned to service.
• 29 September 1857 – En route from Chicago to St. Joseph, MI with flour and groceries, fire again broke out, this time off Calumet, Illinois. Vessel was consumed and lost.

Significant Incidents

On 29 September 1857, the Louisville departed Chicago bound for St. Joseph, Michigan with a cargo of flour, grass seed, and hops. Fire broke out mid-lake near Calumet. Despite firefighting attempts, the blaze spread rapidly, forcing the crew to abandon ship. One lifeboat capsized during launching, resulting in one fatality. The vessel burned to the waterline and sank in approximately 60 feet of water.

Final Disposition

Declared a total constructive loss; no salvage was attempted. Vessel sank with her machinery intact on the bottom.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Louisville is disarticulated, with hull sides lying outward from the keel. Key features remain: engine, boiler, propeller shaft, thrust bearing, and propeller. At the bow is anchor chain and remains of the windlass mechanism. The firebox boiler lies on end, steam drum broken off. The wooden engine base was destroyed by fire, leaving the cylinder standing on truss rods. The single-expansion engine is notable for its unique four-valve system with rotary action on separate intake and exhaust chests.

Explore the full 3D photogrammetry model here: Louisville 3D Model (3DShipwrecks.org)

Resources & Links

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The wreck of the Louisville offers a glimpse into the maritime history of the Great Lakes and the evolution of steam-powered vessels. It remains a site of interest for divers and historians alike.