Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Navarino
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder: likely at a Great Lakes shipyard
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Moored alongside Chicago's North Pier
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
Description
The Navarino was a newly constructed wooden-hulled propeller steamer, built in 1870, and was docked for outfitting or startup preparations when it was destroyed.
History
As one of the newer additions to the fleet, the Navarino had just been docked for outfitting or to undergo startup preparations. During the catastrophic Great Chicago Fire (October 8–10, 1871), the blaze reached the harborfront, resulting in the destruction of the Navarino while lying alongside the North Pier in Chicago. The vessel was burned in situ and rendered a total loss by the urban inferno.
Significant Incidents
- Navarino was destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire on October 9, 1871, while docked at North Pier.
- No lives were lost in the incident.
- The vessel was among several new steamers lost in the fire, significantly disrupting Chicago’s burgeoning freight and passenger marine industries.
Final Disposition
The Navarino was burned to the hull and removed during post-fire cleanup efforts. Its destruction illustrates the fire’s reach, obliterating not only the city’s built environment but also eliminating maritime assets central to its economic expansion.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Navarino no longer exists as it was completely destroyed in the fire and subsequently removed during cleanup operations.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”navarino-1870″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Navarino serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by wooden steamships in urban centers, particularly before the establishment of fire-resistant infrastructure and harbor defenses.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
- Built: 1870, likely at a Great Lakes shipyard
- Operational Status: Brand new when destroyed
- Incident Date: October 9, 1871
- Location: Moored alongside Chicago’s North Pier, Lake Michigan
- Final Fate: Caught in the Great Chicago Fire and destroyed by flames, with no lives lost (linkstothepast.com).
Event & Destruction Details
- As one of the newer additions to the fleet, the Navarino had just been docked for outfitting or to undergo startup preparations.
- During the catastrophic Great Chicago Fire (Oct 8–10, 1871), the blaze reached the harborfront: “On October 9 the new propeller Navarino, while lying alongside the North pier at Chicago, was destroyed by the great conflagration; no lives lost; value of …” (Wikipedia, linkstothepast.com)
- Burned in situ alongside the pier, the vessel was rendered a total loss by the urban inferno.
Historical Significance
- Navarino was among several new steamers lost in the fire, significantly disrupting Chicago’s burgeoning freight and passenger marine industries (Facebook).
- Its destruction illustrates the fire’s reach—not only obliterating the city’s built environment but also eliminating maritime assets that were central to its economic expansion.
- Highlights the vulnerability of wooden steamships docked in urban centers, especially before fire-resistant infrastructure and harbor defenses were in place.
Research & Investigation Opportunities
| Focus Area | Action Items |
|---|---|
| Shipyard & Registry | Locate construction and registry documents (e.g., official number, tonnage, owner). |
| Harbor Contracts & Permits | Review Chicago port records for fitting-out logs related to Navarino. |
| Insurance & Financials | Search Chicago Inter Ocean or Tribune (Oct–Nov 1871) for insurance claims or owner statements regarding loss value. |
| Chicago Fire Records | Identify harbor/wharf damage logs that mention Navarino, contributing to understanding the fire’s maritime impact. |
| Salvage & Aftermath | Determine whether remnants were removed or salvaged in harbor clearance efforts post-fire. |
Summary Profile
- Name: Navarino
- Built: 1870
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer
- Destroyed: October 9, 1871 — Great Chicago Fire, docked at North Pier
- Casualties: None
- Condition: Burned to hull; removed during post-fire cleanup