Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Robert B. Campbell
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: Cole & Campbell
- Dimensions: 95.6 ft (29.1 m); Beam: 23.3 ft (7.1 m); Depth of hold: 9.3 ft (2.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 179 72/95 (Old Style Register)
- Location: 2 miles north of Muskegon Piers, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 21178
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A two-masted wooden schooner, Robert B. Campbell was constructed specifically for the booming lumber trade in the mid-19th century between Michigan and Illinois ports. She featured a shallow draft ideal for the shoal-prone harbours of Lake Michigan’s eastern shoreline.
Description
Built by Cole & Campbell in Grand Traverse, Michigan, her design reflected the utilitarian form of cargo schooners from the period: broad beam, high foredeck, and rigged for ease of cargo access and sail handling.
History
- 1853, Dec 10: Completed at $8,500 cost; entered Grand Traverse–Chicago lumber route.
- 1854, Oct 14: Grounded at Point Betsey; later raised.
- 1855–1863: Ownership changed several times; significant repairs made in 1860 and 1863.
- 1867: Rebuilt, likely extending her career into the 1870s.
- 1868, Oct 24: Aground in Chicago, released by tug TIGER.
- 1874: Again reported ashore on Lake Michigan.
- 1876, Oct 16: Wrecked in a fall gale north of Muskegon; crew rescued by tug James McGordon.
Significant Incidents
- Grounded at Point Betsey in 1854, later raised.
- Aground in Chicago in 1868, released by tug TIGER.
- Reported ashore again in 1874.
- Wrecked in a gale on October 16, 1876, with crew rescued.
Final Disposition
She was driven ashore during a gale and became a total wreck. The crew was saved, but the ship and cargo of shingles were lost. No recovery or salvage beyond basic equipment is documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Not rediscovered; remains presumed scattered or buried near the shoreline 2 miles north of Muskegon, Michigan.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”robert-b-campbell-us-21178″ title=”References & Links”]
Robert B. Campbell is a classic example of a mid-century Great Lakes lumber schooner — durable and heavily travelled, yet ultimately vulnerable to Lake Michigan’s fierce autumn gales. Her loss in 1876 underscores the inherent risks of the era’s freight trade, particularly for lightly laden vessels in late-season operations.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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