Navarino (1870)

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

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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.