Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Minnie M.; renamed Rising Sun
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1884
- Builder: John Oades
- Dimensions: Length 133.3 ft (40.6 m); Beam 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold 10.8 ft (3.3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 447.4 gt
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3.7 m / 12 ft
- Location: Grounded off Pyramid Point, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: N 44° 58.160′, W 85° 55.908′
- Official Number: 91674
- Original Owners: Delta Transportation Co., St. Joseph & Lake Michigan Transportation Co., Algoma Central Railroad Co., House of David
- Number of Masts: 2 masts for auxiliary sail
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller steamer with two decks, originally built for freight and commercial transport.
Description
The Rising Sun, originally named Minnie M., was a wooden propeller steamer constructed in 1884. It featured a single screw propulsion system and was equipped with two masts for auxiliary sail. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 447.4 gt and dimensions of 133.3 ft in length, 26 ft in beam, and a depth of 10.8 ft.
History
Initially enrolled at Marquette, MI, under Delta Transportation Co., the vessel operated on the Escanaba–Green Bay route. Over the years, it changed ownership multiple times, including a charter by St. Joseph & Lake Michigan Transportation Co. in 1892 and a sale to Algoma Central Railroad Co. in 1899. After grounding at Collingwood in 1905 and subsequent repairs, it was purchased by the House of David in 1913 and renamed Rising Sun, servicing routes between High Island and St. Joseph.
Significant Incidents
- Grounded at Collingwood, Lake Huron in 1905 (repaired).
- Grounded off Pyramid Point during a blinding snowstorm on 29 October 1917, leading to its total loss.
Final Disposition
The Rising Sun was declared a total loss after grounding off Pyramid Point. The crew and passengers swam ashore with assistance from the Sleeping Bear Point Life-Saving crew. The vessel was heavily laden with fence posts and produce at the time of the incident. The registry documents were surrendered on 29 April 1918 in Grand Haven, MI.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is shallow, approximately 12 ft (3.7 m) deep, with remnants of the boiler and hull timbers visible in low water. It is located within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Manitou Passage State Underwater Preserve, making it a protected resource. The site is accessible for viewing from shore, kayaking, and snorkeling, with high water clarity.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”rising-sun-minnie-m-us-91674″ title=”References & Links”]
The Rising Sun serves as a significant historical landmark, representing the challenges of early motorized shipping in Lake Michigan. Its accessible wreck offers visitors a tangible connection to the region’s maritime history and early 20th-century commerce.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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