Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Nelson US 18173

Explore the wreck of the Nelson, a wooden schooner barge that sank in 1899 in Lake Superior, with its cargo and artifacts still visible.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Nelson
  • Type: Schooner Barge; Brigantine
  • Year Built: 1866
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions: 199 ft (60.7 m) X 34 ft (10.4 m); Depth of hold: 14 ft (4.3 m)
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 70 m / 230 ft
  • Location: Near Michigan's Upper Peninsula
  • Official Number: 18173

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Nelson was a wooden schooner barge with brigantine rigging, a versatile vessel used primarily for transporting bulk goods. Often towed by steamers, schooner barges like the Nelson were integral to the maritime commerce of the Great Lakes.

Description

Built in 1866, the Nelson was designed to carry bulk cargo efficiently across the Great Lakes. On October 13, 1899, the vessel sank in a storm on Lake Superior while transporting a load of coal. Despite the harsh conditions, all crew members aboard were rescued by the tug S. H. Foster, making the incident notable for its lack of fatalities.

The vessel’s loss was attributed to its inability to withstand the rough weather, a common vulnerability for aging schooner barges subjected to the extreme conditions of the Great Lakes.

History

The wreck of the Nelson lies at a depth of 230 ft (70 m) in Lake Superior, near Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Significant Incidents

  • The Nelson sank on October 13, 1899, during a storm while carrying coal.
  • All crew members were rescued by the tug S. H. Foster.

Final Disposition

The wreck is part of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum’s underwater research efforts. Its precise location remains undisclosed to protect it from unauthorized exploration and looting. The site is monitored for its historical significance and is a subject of continued archaeological interest.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck features a wealth of artifacts and machinery, including:

  • Two wooden stock anchors
  • Manual and steam bilge pumps
  • Three capstans, a windlass, and a deck winch
  • Donkey boiler
  • Broken masts, booms, and gaffs
  • Ship’s wheel, steering box, and rudder
  • Boom cradle, boom tables, centerboard winch, and catheads
  • Personal artifacts, such as a stove, highlight the daily life aboard the ship.

Resources & Links

At a depth of 230 ft, the Nelson requires advanced technical diving skills and equipment. The cold, clear waters of Lake Superior contribute to the site’s exceptional preservation but also demand divers be well-prepared for deep and potentially hazardous conditions. Divers must adhere to regulations protecting the wreck as an underwater cultural resource.