Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Northern Queen
- Type: Steam Barge
- Year Built: 1889
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length 150 ft (46 m); Beam 26 ft (8 m); Depth of hold 10 ft (3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Approx. 450-550 tons
- Location: Lake Huron
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden steam barge, a common and versatile type of Great Lakes freighter, used for towing as well as carrying bulk cargo, including coal, iron ore, and lumber. These vessels combined a large open hold with a forward pilothouse and mid-to-aft machinery space, offering flexibility in bulk freight movements.
Description
The Northern Queen was built with a wooden hull, single screw propulsion powered by a coal-fired steam engine, and a shallow enough draft to access smaller lake ports. Its broad cargo hold could be adapted for coal, lumber, or stone, making it ideal for Great Lakes commerce.
History
Construction and Service
Launched in 1889, the Northern Queen worked throughout Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie, hauling a wide range of cargos. She was typical of the 1880s–1890s wooden steam barges that formed the backbone of regional bulk shipping.
Final Voyage and Loss
In early November 1913, the ship was underway with no cargo reported (likely in ballast), and was caught in the infamous “Big Storm” of November 1913 — one of the most destructive events in Great Lakes maritime history. Pounded by hurricane-force winds and towering waves, the Northern Queen was driven ashore. Although she did not break apart immediately, the pounding seas left her high on the beach and holed beyond repair.
The crew escaped with no loss of life, but the vessel was declared a total loss soon after grounding due to structural damage.
Significant Incidents
- Loss during the Great Storm of 1913, a significant maritime disaster in the Great Lakes.
Final Disposition
Abandoned in place as a total wreck. There are no records of salvage or refloating, and the hull was presumably dismantled or gradually broken up by storms.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern “rediscovery” applies, since the wreck was visible and documented in 1913 and later.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”northern-queen-1889″ title=”References & Links”]
The Northern Queen’s loss during the Great Storm of 1913 is a textbook case of the vulnerability of wooden steam barges when faced with hurricane-force winds and overwhelming seas. While her crew survived, the ship itself could not be salvaged. Today, she stands among the dozens of vessels lost in one of the worst disasters in Great Lakes shipping history.
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
- Vessel Name: Northern Queen
- Registry: United States (precise registration number not confirmed in contemporary listings)
- Year Built: 1889
- Hull Material: Wood
- Rig: Steam barge (wooden-hulled)
- Length: Approx. 46 m (150 ft) (typical for steam barges of the time)
- Beam: Approx. 8 m (26 ft)
- Depth: Approx. 3 m (10 ft) estimated
- Gross Tonnage: Approx. 450–550 tons (based on similar steam barges of the era)
- Date Lost: 11 November 1913
Vessel Type
Wooden steam barge, a common and versatile type of Great Lakes freighter, used for towing as well as carrying bulk cargo, including coal, iron ore, and lumber. These vessels combined a large open hold with a forward pilothouse and mid-to-aft machinery space, offering flexibility in bulk freight movements.
Description
The Northern Queen was built with a wooden hull, single screw propulsion powered by a coal-fired steam engine, and a shallow enough draft to access smaller lake ports. Its broad cargo hold could be adapted for coal, lumber, or stone, making it ideal for Great Lakes commerce.
History
Construction and Service
Launched in 1889, the Northern Queen worked throughout Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie, hauling a wide range of cargos. She was typical of the 1880s–1890s wooden steam barges that formed the backbone of regional bulk shipping.
Final Voyage and Loss
In early November 1913, the ship was underway with no cargo reported (likely in ballast), and was caught in the infamous “Big Storm” of November 1913 — one of the most destructive events in Great Lakes maritime history. Pounded by hurricane-force winds and towering waves, the Northern Queen was driven ashore. Although she did not break apart immediately, the pounding seas left her high on the beach and holed beyond repair.
The crew escaped with no loss of life, but the vessel was declared a total loss soon after grounding due to structural damage.
Final Disposition
Abandoned in place as a total wreck. There are no records of salvage or refloating, and the hull was presumably dismantled or gradually broken up by storms.
Located By & Date Found
No modern “rediscovery” applies, since the wreck was visible and documented in 1913 and later.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessels (BGSU)
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- NOAA Big Storm of 1913 Resources
Conclusion
The Northern Queen’s loss during the Great Storm of 1913 is a textbook case of the vulnerability of wooden steam barges when faced with hurricane-force winds and overwhelming seas. While her crew survived, the ship itself could not be salvaged. Today, she stands among the dozens of vessels lost in one of the worst disasters in Great Lakes shipping history.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: Northern Queen, 1913 storm, Great Lakes hurricane, steam barge, wooden freighter, shipwreck
- Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, 20th Century Storm Losses, Wooden Steam Barges, Big Storm of 1913
- Glossary: steam barge, beached, constructive total loss, November gale