Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Milwaukie
- Type: Wooden three-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1836
- Builder: B.F. Delano yard, Grand Island, Niagara River
- Dimensions: 113 ft × 27 ft × 10 ft; approximately 286 tons (old measurement)
- Registered Tonnage: Not officially documented
- Location: Off the mouth of Kalamazoo River, near Saugatuck, Michigan
- Official Number: Not officially documented
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Milwaukie was a wooden three-masted schooner, primarily used for general merchandise freight.
Description
Built in 1836, the Milwaukie was one of the earliest three-masted schooners on Lake Michigan. It measured 113 feet in length, 27 feet in beam, and had a hold depth of 10 feet. The vessel was approximately 286 tons, based on old measurement standards.
History
The Milwaukie was constructed at the B.F. Delano yard on Grand Island in the Niagara River. It played a significant role in the early maritime trade of the Great Lakes, transporting goods such as flour and whiskey.
Significant Incidents
- Final Incident: On November 18, 1842, the Milwaukie departed from the Kalamazoo River after loading 400-500 barrels of flour and other merchandise, bound for Buffalo, New York.
- Storm Conditions: The vessel encountered a severe late-season storm characterized by strong northwest winds and freezing temperatures.
- Final Stranding: The anchored vessel dragged onto a sandbar, was pounded broadside against beach ice, and ultimately broke in half in heavy seas.
- Casualties: Of the 15 crew members aboard, 9 perished—seven froze ashore, and two drowned while attempting to swim.
Final Disposition
The Milwaukie was declared a total constructive loss as it broke in two on the sandbar and was quickly destroyed. While bodies were recovered and some cargo salvaged by local communities, no salvage of the vessel itself was recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
In 2023, the wreck site was rediscovered through sonar investigation, revealing remains amid sandbar conditions near Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Underwater detection has identified the keel and structural ribs of the vessel.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”milwaukie-1836″ title=”References & Links”]
The Milwaukie remains a poignant artifact of early Great Lakes maritime history, illustrating the dangers faced by sailors in the region. Its tragic demise during the 1842 storm marks it as one of the earliest recorded shipwrecks on Lake Michigan.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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