Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Marine City
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: Likely Detroit-area shipyard (records incomplete)
- Dimensions: 130-150 ft (40-45 m); 26 ft (7.9 m); 10 ft (3 m)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Scarecrow Island, south of Thunder Bay, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: Not precisely charted
- Official Number: Not conclusively recorded
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Marine City was a wooden Great Lakes propeller steamer, built in the mid-1860s, adapted for both package freight and later bulk trades. These vessels carried goods economically through their large holds and efficient screw propulsion, an improvement over older sidewheelers.
Description
Wooden hull with two full decks, moderate superstructure for cargo operations, and a single funnel. Propeller steamers like the Marine City were workhorses of the pulpwood, coal, and package freight routes throughout the late 19th century.
History
Built in 1866, Marine City spent decades on the Lakes, changing ownership several times as she adapted to changing bulk trades. In the fall of 1901, she was under charter hauling pulpwood from Blind River, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan.
On 11 November 1901, while downbound in Lake Huron during a severe November gale, the Marine City was driven onto the rocks at Scarecrow Island, south of Thunder Bay, Michigan. Pounded by heavy seas and pinned on the rocks, she quickly began to break up. All four crew members aboard were lost in the wreck.
Significant Incidents
- 11 November 1901: The Marine City was lost during a severe gale, driven onto the rocks at Scarecrow Island.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss. The hull was reportedly smashed to pieces by repeated storms, and no significant salvage was recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No conclusive modern survey confirms the exact wreck location. Parts may remain near Scarecrow Island.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”marine-city1866″ title=”References & Links”]
The Marine City is another reminder of how dangerous late-season navigation could be on Lake Huron, especially during the fierce November storms for which the Lakes are notorious. Though her wooden hull and seasoned crew had survived many voyages, the combination of shoals, rocks, and a violent gale proved fatal.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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