Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Rochester 1

Explore the mysterious Rochester 1 wreck, an unidentified steamer lost in Lake Ontario around 1896, still posing navigational hazards today.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Unknown (Rochester 1)
  • Type: Wooden Steamer
  • Dimensions: Unknown
  • Location: Approx. 43.354503° N, ~77.548° W (east of the Genesee River, Rochester, NY)
  • Coordinates: Approx. 43.354503° N, ~77.548° W

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Unidentified Wooden Steamer

Description

This vessel, often referred to as Rochester 1, represents a documented but unidentified steamer wreck just off the coast of Rochester, NY, in Lake Ontario. The wreck appears to be a medium-to-large wooden hull steamship, based on early reports and navigational caution notes. It was first charted in 1896 as a visible obstruction, implying that the hull or portions of the superstructure were above the waterline at the time.

History

The wreck likely occurred in or just before 1896, during an era of heavy lake commerce and frequent vessel losses due to storms, poor visibility, or mechanical failure. A newspaper clipping from that year, archived by the Maritime History of the Great Lakes, described a wrecked steamer off Rochester, with visible wreckage noted by mariners. While the report lacked a vessel name, it coincides precisely with the year and general location of this NOAA wreck record.

This suggests that the wreck charted in 1896 is the same as the one reported in local maritime news, though no ownership, vessel name, or registry has ever been definitively linked to the site.

Over time, the wreck deteriorated and submerged, leading to its 1924 reclassification as a submerged wreck, and later in 1953, as a dangerous submerged obstruction. No modern archaeological surveys or diver confirmations have been recorded.

Significant Incidents

  • First recorded as visible on navigational charts in 1896.
  • No diver-based confirmation or sonar scan data available.
  • Newspaper report from 1896 supports its visibility and contemporaneous loss.

Final Disposition

  • Wreck is still listed on NOAA Chart 14805 as a dangerous submerged wreck.
  • No salvage records or vessel identification found.
  • It remains a navigational caution but largely unexamined.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck remains unexamined and is classified as a dangerous submerged wreck. It is still present on NOAA marine charts, indicating its ongoing navigational hazard status.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Rochester 1 wreck, officially listed as an unidentified dangerous submerged wreck near Rochester, NY, appears to match historical accounts of a steamer wrecked in 1896, based on news and NOAA records. Though it remains unidentified and unconfirmed by divers, the wreck’s longevity on charts and detailed record history suggest a substantial, possibly wooden, steamer lost to Lake Ontario’s notorious late-season conditions. She continues to wait beneath the waves for archaeological confirmation.