Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Ozaukee
• Type: Schooner or schooner-barge (likely)
• Year Built: 1857
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Lake Superior, approx. 3 miles off Bad River, southeast of Chequamegon Bay, Wisconsin
• Coordinates: Not recorded

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Ozaukee was likely a wooden schooner or schooner-barge, common for bulk hauling and towing duty in the Upper Lakes by the mid-19th century. Her role towing a log raft at the time of the incident suggests she was being used in the timber trade, which was booming in the Chequamegon Bay region in the 1880s.

Description

On May 27, 1884, the Ozaukee was towing a log raft through the Chequamegon Bay area of Lake Superior when she encountered a storm. She was driven ashore and struck a sandbar approximately 3 miles off Bad River, southeast of the bay.

No lives were lost in the wreck. The crew survived the grounding, but the vessel was wrecked and declared a total loss.

History

Wrecked and abandoned on a sandbar in shallow water. It is unknown if any remains are visible or diveable today. Not currently listed as an active dive site.

Significant Incidents

• May 27, 1884: The Ozaukee wrecked while towing a log raft during a storm, resulting in the vessel being declared a total loss.

Final Disposition

Wrecked and abandoned on a sandbar in shallow water. It is unknown if any remains are visible or diveable today. Not currently listed as an active dive site.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Wrecked and abandoned on a sandbar in shallow water. It is unknown if any remains are visible or diveable today. Not currently listed as an active dive site.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”ozaukeem1884″ title=”References & Links”]

The Ozaukeem remains a historical wreck in Lake Superior, representing the maritime trade of the 19th century and the challenges faced by vessels during storms.