Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Niagara
- Type: Schooner-barge (wooden consort)
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Parsons & Humble
- Dimensions: 205 ft × 34 ft × 14 ft (62.5 m × 10.4 m × 4.3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross 765.65; Net 726.52
- Depth at Wreck Site: 30.5 m / 100 ft
- Location: ~3.5 miles off Vermilion Point, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: 46°49.169′ N, 85°07.532′ W
- Official Number: 18787
- Original Owners: Possibly Corrigan fleet (Cleveland) – unconfirmed
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Niagara was a three-masted wooden schooner converted to function as an unpowered consort barge. It featured a single deck, a centerboard trunk, and structural reinforcement for carrying dense bulk cargoes like iron ore.
Description
The wreck site includes remnants of the centerboard trunk, windlass, winch, anchor chains, rigging debris, mast fragments, and a standing stem. Much of the hull is fragmented and buried under cargo debris.
History
Niagara was built around 1873 for the grain and ore trade and later operated as part of the Corrigan fleet of Cleveland, serving as a consort barge under tow by steamers. On 7 September 1887, while under tow by the steamer Australasia, a severe gale arose near Vermilion Point. The schooner-barge broke free from her towline, capsized in the waves, and sank rapidly. Though the crew launched a lifeboat, all hands were lost when it too capsized.
Significant Incidents
- 7 September 1887: The Niagara capsized and sank during a severe gale while under tow, resulting in the loss of all nine crew members.
Final Disposition
The Niagara capsized and sank in deep water off Vermilion Point. The wreck is considered a total loss. Modern documentation shows the hull to be heavily fragmented and partially buried beneath spilled ore. The centerboard trunk and windlass remain visible. The standing stem remains upright, protruding from the debris field.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is charted and modeled by 3DShipwrecks.org, using over 4,500 DPV survey images collected in 2022. The original discovery date is not definitively documented. Mariners and divers should exercise caution in the vicinity due to submerged structural debris.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”niagara-1873″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
Access to the Niagara requires a boat, with entry points available from the Whitefish Point region in Michigan. Divers should be aware of cold freshwater conditions, variable visibility, and the need for permits within the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve. Remember to leave only bubbles and take only memories.
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.
Lead Image
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Other Names: None documented
Official Number: 18787
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Schooner-barge (wooden consort)
Builder: Unknown
Year Built: 1873
Dimensions: 205 ft × 34 ft × 14 ft (62.5 m × 10.4 m × 4.3 m)
Tonnage: Gross 765.65; Net 726.52
Cargo on Final Voyage: Iron ore
Date of Loss: 7 September 1887
Location: ~3.5 miles off Vermilion Point, Lake Superior
Coordinates: 46°49.169′ N, 85°07.532′ W
Depth: ~100 ft (30.5 m)
Home Port: Unknown
Owners: Possibly Corrigan fleet (Cleveland) – unconfirmed
Crew: 9 (unnamed)
Casualties: 9 lost; no survivors
Description
The Niagara was a three-masted wooden schooner converted to function as an unpowered consort barge. It featured a single deck, a centerboard trunk, and structural reinforcement for carrying dense bulk cargoes like iron ore. The wreck site includes remnants of the centerboard trunk, windlass, winch, anchor chains, rigging debris, mast fragments, and a standing stem. Much of the hull is fragmented and buried under cargo debris.
History
Niagara was built around 1873 for the grain and ore trade and later operated as part of the Corrigan fleet of Cleveland, serving as a consort barge under tow by steamers. On 7 September 1887, while under tow by the steamer Australasia, a severe gale arose near Vermilion Point. The schooner-barge broke free from her towline, capsized in the waves, and sank rapidly. Though the crew launched a lifeboat, all hands were lost when it too capsized.
Final Dispositions
The Niagara capsized and sank in deep water off Vermilion Point. The wreck is considered a total loss. Modern documentation shows the hull to be heavily fragmented and partially buried beneath spilled ore. The centerboard trunk and windlass remain visible. The standing stem remains upright, protruding from the debris field.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck is charted and modeled by 3DShipwrecks.org, using over 4,500 DPV survey images collected in 2022. The original discovery date is not definitively documented.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted. Mariners and divers should exercise caution in the vicinity due to submerged structural debris.
Dive Information
Access: Boat
Entry Point: Whitefish Point region (Michigan)
Conditions: Cold freshwater, variable visibility, seasonal thermocline
Depth Range: ~100 ft (30.5 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Sault Sainte Marie, local EMS
Permits: Required (Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve)
Dive Support: Local charters and services near Whitefish Point
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Nine crew members were lost with the Niagara. Individual names are not recorded in accessible databases. Further research via newspapers or local archives may reveal additional details.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“During a severe gale on September 7, 1887, the tow line broke. The Niagara slipped into the wave‑troughs, capsized and sank … she was reportedly overloaded by about 250 tons.” [2]
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official Number 18787 is listed for the schooner-barge Niagara. Other enrollment and insurance details remain undetermined pending further archival research.
Site Documentation & Imaging
The wreck is documented via a detailed 3D photogrammetric model by 3DShipwrecks.org. The model was produced using over 4,579 photos captured via DPV in 2022.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Newspapers.com
- Find A Grave
- 3DShipwrecks.org: Niagara
References
- “Niagara – Schooner Barge,” 3DShipwrecks.org, https://3dshipwrecks.org/shipwreck-niagara-schooner-barge/
- “Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve: Niagara,” Michigan Preserves, https://www.michiganpreserves.org/whitefish-point-underwater-preserve/
- “Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society – Niagara,” GLSPS.org, summary pages (accessed 2025)
- “Shotline Diving – Niagara,” ShotlineDiving.com, image and article collection (2025)
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: 18787
Coordinates: 46°49.169′ N, 85°07.532′ W
Depth: ~100 ft (30.5 m)
Location Description: ~3.5 miles off Vermilion Point, Lake Superior
Vessel Type: Schooner-barge
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 205 ft × 34 ft × 14 ft; 765.65 gross tons
Condition: Broken / fragmented; partially buried
Cause of Loss: Gale; capsized under tow
Discovery Date: Undocumented (modern rediscovery)
Discovered By: Not cited
Method: Dive & photogrammetry
Legal Notes: No ownership or protection notes documented
Hazards: Wreck debris; deep site
Permits Required: Yes (within Whitefish Point Preserve)