Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: S.C. Baldwin
• Type: Wooden steam barge
• Year Built: 1871
• Builder: Campbell, Owen & Company
• Dimensions: 160 ft × 30 ft × 12 ft (48.8 × 9.1 × 3.7 m)
• Registered Tonnage: Unknown
• Depth at Wreck Site: 21 m / 70 ft
• Location: Lake Michigan, near Kewaunee, Wisconsin
• Coordinates: 44°10.873′N, 87°29.179′W
• Official Number: 23957
• Original Owners: Unknown
• Number of Masts: None

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The S.C. Baldwin was a wooden steam barge designed for transporting freight, particularly iron ore and later limestone.

Description

The S.C. Baldwin was built in 1871 as a single-decked wooden steamer for iron ore transport, later rebuilt with two decks, and subsequently reconfigured multiple times throughout her service life. By 1882 she was converted into a single-deck lumber carrier, and in 1904 converted again into a wooden stone barge with a square stern. This adaptability exemplifies the evolving freight demands of Great Lakes shipping during the late 19th century.

History

After decades of service carrying lumber, ore, and later limestone, the S.C. Baldwin met her end on August 1908. While in tow of the tug Torrent during a storm near Kewaunee, Wisconsin, the vessel capsized and quickly sank in 60 feet of water. Two of her three crew escaped; one perished. Salvage efforts removed her boiler, bilge pump, anchors, and cables a month later.

In 2015, Wisconsin Historical Society archaeologists and volunteers documented the site. The wreck was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

Significant Incidents

• August 1908: The S.C. Baldwin capsized in a storm while being towed by the tug Torrent, resulting in the loss of one crew member.

Final Disposition

Today, the wreck lies broken but upright. Her stem post rises dramatically 20–30 feet off the bottom. While the stern is separated from the keel, major hull sections, decking, stanchions, and hatches remain. Her dumped cargo of stone was located separately 2.5 miles northwest of the main wreck site.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is marked with a seasonal Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast NMS mooring buoy, reducing risk of anchor damage. No standing NOTMAR hazards recorded.

Resources & Links

Access to the S.C. Baldwin is by boat only, with conditions varying from cold freshwater to visibility between 10–40 feet. Recreational diving is permitted, while scientific collection requires authorization from NOAA/WHS.