Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Muskegon
- Type: Wooden sidewheel steamer
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Company, Wyandotte, Michigan
- Dimensions: 231 ft length, 29–34 ft beam, ~1148 GRT
- Registered Tonnage: ~1148 GRT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 15.24 m / 50 ft
- Location: Muskegon Harbor entrance, Michigan
- Official Number: 125906
- Original Owners: Crosby Transportation Co. of Milwaukee
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden sidewheel steamer designed for passenger and package freight service.
Description
The Muskegon was originally named City of Milwaukee when built in 1881. It was later renamed Holland around 1907 and then Muskegon in 1919. The vessel was constructed by the Detroit Dry Dock Company and had a length of 231 feet and a beam of 29 to 34 feet.
History
The Muskegon served under the Goodrich Line before being acquired by Crosby Transportation Co. of Milwaukee. It was involved in passenger and freight transport on Lake Michigan.
Significant Incidents
- Fatalities: 29 passengers and crew lost (some reports vary: 12–30). Survivors included 37 passengers and 9 crew.
- Rescue: Coast Guard and lifeboat crews responded within minutes; Captain Edward (or Edwin) Miller stayed aboard attempting to maneuver.
Final Disposition
The Muskegon capsized and sank within minutes (4–10 minutes reported) in approximately 50 feet of water at the entrance of Muskegon Harbor due to loss of engine control and severe weather conditions.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck lies in about 50 feet of water at the channel entrance and is a known dive site, offering strong archaeological potential.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”muskegon-city-of-milwaukee-holland-us-125906″ title=”References & Links”]
The Muskegon remains a significant historical site, illustrating the dangers faced by early 20th-century maritime travel and the impact of severe weather on vessel safety.
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.
Identification & Ownership
- Official Number: 125906
- Built: 1881 by Detroit Dry Dock Company, Wyandotte, Michigan, originally named City of Milwaukee for Goodrich Line
- Later Renamed: Holland (c. 1907), then Muskegon in 1919 under Crosby Transportation Co. of Milwaukee (Michigan Shipwreck Research Association, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Type: Wooden sidewheel steamer for passenger and package freight service
- Dimensions: 231 ft length, 29–34 ft beam, ~1148 GRT (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Sinking
- Date & Time: Around 4 a.m., October 28, 1919
- Conditions: Westerly gale driving waves over entrance to Muskegon Harbor
- Incident: Loss of engine control led the Muskegon to ram the south pierhead, becoming ensnared by undertow. Massive waves shattered her wooden hull (Michigan Shipwreck Research Association)
- Sinking: Capsized and sank within minutes (4–10 minutes reported) in ~50 ft of water at channel entrance (Wikipedia)
Human Toll & Rescue Efforts
- Fatalities: 29 passengers and crew lost (some reports vary: 12–30). Survivors included 37 passengers and 9 crew (Michigan Shipwreck Research Association)
- Rescue: Coast Guard and lifeboat crews responded within minutes; Captain Edward (or Edwin) Miller stayed aboard attempting maneuver—some survivors guided by handheld flashlight (Wikipedia)
Sources & Archival Citations
- Michigan Shipwreck Research provides eyewitness account, timing, and immediate consequences (Michigan Shipwreck Research Association)
- Wikipedia and historical news excerpts (AP/UP) confirm details, names, and casualty numbers (Wikipedia)
Historical Significance
- One of the most dramatic Great Lakes disasters post–1913 Storm, illustrating the volatility of early-autumn nor’easters on Lake Michigan
- A pivotal case in maritime safety—wooden hull proved vulnerable to massive wave action, even in harbor entry
- Strong modern archaeological potential: wreck lies in ~50′ water at channel entrance and is a known dive site
Further Research Recommendations
- Estimate wreck coordinates based on pierhead and depth records; commission side-scan sonar & magnetometer survey
- Obtain survivor interviews from Muskegon newspaper archives (Oct–Nov 1919)
- Secure Coast Guard incident logs and Captain Miller’s official record
- Explore artifact preservation via Michigan Shipwreck Research Association