Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Music
- Type: Wooden Steam Tug / Excursion Steamer
- Year Built: 1892
- Builder: McMillan
- Dimensions: 93 ft (28.3 m); 21 ft; ~8 ft
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3.05 m / 10 ft
- Location: Portage Lake near Portage Point Drive, Onekama, Michigan
- Official Number: 92421
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Steam Tug / Excursion Steamer, 1892
Description
The Music was a wooden steam tug built in 1892, primarily used for passenger excursions between Manistee and Onekama. It featured live pianist and evening orchestra performances, catering to a high-end clientele.
History
Marketed as a high-end excursion vessel, Music saw limited success due to poor weather and competition. By late summer 1899, it was transferred to Sturgeon Bay for general cargo runs.
Significant Incidents
- Final Voyage: Docked in Onekama to take on cargo (likely shingles) from Sturgeon Bay during the late 1899 season.
- Fire Origin: Flames appeared near the boiler-room hours after captain and crew left for supper, leaving only two watchmen onboard.
- Rapid Spread: The vessel was quickly engulfed; villagers feared a boiler explosion and did not assist.
- Drift & Destruction: Ropes burned, Music floated westward into Portage Lake as a blazing spectacle, ultimately burned to the waterline and sank in 10–20 ft of water.
Final Disposition
The Music sank in shallow water in Portage Lake near Portage Point Drive, Onekama. The propeller was recovered and is now displayed at Onekama Village Park. Earlier dive surveys in 2022 located the hull remains in approximately 10–20 ft of water.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Music is accessible in shallow waters, with ongoing opportunities for archaeological documentation and conservation efforts.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”music-us-92421″ title=”References & Links”]
The Music remains a compelling study of late-19th-century wooden steamers transitioning from leisure to cargo operations. Its dramatic burning at Onekama, documented and memorialized both physically and in local folklore, now rests in shallow, accessible depths.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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