Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Pewabic
- Type: Wooden Propeller Steamer (Passenger & Package Freight)
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: Peck & Masters, Cleveland, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length 200 ft (61 m); Beam 31 ft (9.4 m); Depth 20.6 ft (6.3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 997 gross tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 55 m / 165 ft
- Location: Thunder Bay, Lake Huron, near Alpena, MI
- Coordinates: N44°57.890′, W83°06.236′
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Pewabic was a wooden propeller-driven steamer built to serve both passengers and high-value freight. It was especially noted for transporting large quantities of Michigan copper ore, crucial to Great Lakes commerce. Its design represented cutting-edge shipbuilding of the Civil War era.
Description
Launched in 1863 at Cleveland, Ohio built by Peck & Masters, Pewabic was considered state-of-the-art. Initially registered in Cleveland, its home port shifted to Detroit in 1865. The vessel regularly ran between Lake Superior ports and Lake Erie cities, carrying passengers, mail, and copper—an essential industrial commodity.
History
On 9 August 1865, Pewabic collided with its sister ship Meteor near Thunder Bay while attempting a close pass to exchange mail and news. In the maneuver, Pewabic veered into Meteor‘s bow, tearing a hole in her port side. She sank within minutes. Survivors leapt aboard Meteor or were pulled from the water, but at least 33 lives were lost.
Significant Incidents
- Recovery of copper cargo began as early as 1880.
- In 1897, divers used dynamite and a diving bell to salvage more cargo, destroying cabins and superstructure but leaving the hull mostly intact.
- Pewabic became infamous both for the disaster and for the aggressive salvage techniques of the late 19th century.
Final Disposition
The Pewabic disaster ranks among the deadliest in Thunder Bay and is emblematic of 19th-century Great Lakes navigation risks. It illustrates both the promise of fast copper transport and the peril of informal practices such as “mail exchange passes.” Today the wreck is both a gravesite and one of the most historically significant shipwrecks in Lake Huron, preserved within NOAA’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Wreck rests upright at 165 ft (55 m).
- Hull remains largely intact despite salvage damage.
- Artifacts and traces of copper cargo persist.
- Cold, clear Lake Huron waters provide relatively good visibility.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”pewabic-1863″ title=”References & Links”]
Recently released NOAA dive documentation showcases the wreck in stunning detail.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →