Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sardinia
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1856
- Builder: William Pidgeon
- Dimensions: 105.2 ft (32.06 m); Beam 24.7 ft (7.53 m); Depth of hold 8.8 ft (2.68 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 230 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 10 ft
- Location: Hedgehog Harbor, Green Bay, Door County, Wisconsin
- Coordinates: 45°17.200'N, 87°01.433'W
- Official Number: 22583
- Original Owners: William M. Gorrie, Captain Max Pfile, Ernest Pfeil
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Sardinia was a two-masted wooden schooner built in 1856 in Coldwater, Ontario. Originally Canadian-owned, the vessel was not registered officially due to its early construction date. Over time, it was sold to multiple U.S. owners and officially re-registered under U.S. registry. The ship was primarily used for lumber and general cargo transport between Ontario, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan.
Description
The Sardinia was built to transport lumber, shingles, and cordwood. At 105.2 feet (32.06 m) in length, with a beam of 24.7 feet (7.53 m) and a depth of 8.8 feet (2.68 m), it had a carrying capacity of 9,000 bushels and a gross tonnage of 230 tons.
Throughout its career, the Sardinia had a long history of accidents and mishaps:
- 1856: Ashore at Georgian Bay.
- 1864 (Fall): Wrecked at Oswego, New York, on Lake Ontario.
- 1865: Rebuilt by George Goble in Oswego, New York, and re-registered at 146.34 gross tons.
- 1866 (October): Owned by Goodnow & Hitchcock of Manitowoc, Wisconsin; transported lumber between Manitowoc and Chicago.
- 1869: Suffered damaged rigging in a storm on Lake Michigan.
- 1874 (April): Struck a pier in Chicago, damaging its rigging.
- 1874 (September): Collided with the propeller steamer Nebraska, was nearly cut in two and sunk, later raised and rebuilt.
- 1876 (May): Stranded on a pier in Chicago.
- 1877 (May): Collided with another vessel near Racine, Wisconsin.
- 1883 (September): Struck a pier in Whitehall, Michigan.
- 1884 (June): Collided with the tug Alpha near Chicago.
- 1900 (July 6): Final wreck at Hedgehog Harbour, Door County, Green Bay, Lake Michigan.
History
The Sardinia’s final voyage began on June 19, 1900, when it arrived from Milwaukee at Hedgehog Harbour to pick up a load of cordwood. The vessel dropped its mud anchors in deep water and tied up to Voight’s pier.
- June 29, 1900: A northwest wind intensified into a gale.
- June 30, 1900: The Plum Island Lifesavers attempted to refloat the vessel but failed.
- July 6, 1900: The storm broke the anchor chains, and the Sardinia was driven onto the rocky shore, staving two large holes in its bottom.
- September 1900: The ship was abandoned, and its rigging was sold to pay off the crew of five.
Significant Incidents
For years, the wreck of the Sardinia remained partially intact and was used as a fishing platform and tourist attraction. Eventually, ice and storms broke it apart, and today, the wreckage is completely submerged.
Final Disposition
The remains of the Sardinia have been known and visible since the time of its wrecking in 1900. Over time, parts of the ship have disappeared beneath the surface, leaving only submerged remnants.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is located at Hedgehog Harbor, Green Bay, Lake Michigan. The nearest city is Gills Rock, Door County, Wisconsin. The coordinates are 45°17.200’N, 87°01.433’W. The depth is approximately 10 feet (3 meters). The wreck condition is described as scattered wreckage, including the centerboard and centerboard trunk. The bottom type consists of cobble and sand, with visibility being good but variable depending on weather conditions.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sardinia-us-22583″ title=”References & Links”]
The Sardinia was a hard-working schooner with a long history of mishaps and collisions. Though originally Canadian, it spent most of its life under U.S. ownership, sailing between Chicago, Milwaukee, Manitowoc, and Toronto. Its final wreck at Hedgehog Harbor is a testament to the dangers of early Great Lakes sailing. Today, divers and historians can still visit the remains of the once-busy schooner, a silent relic of the Great Lakes’ maritime past.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →