Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Savannah
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1845
- Builder: Hubbell, Milwaukee
- Dimensions: 61 ft × 16 ft × 4 ft (18.6 m × 4.9 m × 1.2 m)
- Registered Tonnage: approximately 36 tons
- Location: Michigan side of Lake Michigan
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: Not specified
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Two-masted wooden schooner, typical of mid-19th-century lake cargo work.
Description
A small and nimble vessel of just 36 tons, the Savannah was typical of early Great Lakes coastal commerce. Lightly built and reliant on both sail and occasional towing, she traded along the Michigan shoreline.
History
Built at Milwaukee in 1845, the Savannah plied coastal routes but was caught in an early-winter storm in November 1846. Amid rough seas, she and several similar vessels were driven ashore along Michigan’s coastline. Local accounts simply record her as a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- Struck shore during a storm; “went ashore with several other vessels.”
- No loss of life mentioned.
Final Disposition
Stranded and wrecked ashore in Lake Michigan. Declared a total loss soon after, with no recovery of cargo or vessel.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No records exist of salvage, diving, or formal discovery. The exact wreck site and debris field remain unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”savannah-1845″ title=”References & Links”]
The Savannah joined several other small schooners lost spontaneously during a surprisingly fierce storm in November 1846 on the Michigan side of Lake Michigan. Though minor in size, her loss is emblematic of how quickly coastal conditions could overwhelm early wooden vessels before modern weather forecasting or storm-season restrictions.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Savannah
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Date Built and Launched: 1845, by Hubbell, Milwaukee
- Measurements: 61 ft × 16 ft × 4 ft (18.6 m × 4.9 m × 1.2 m); approximately 36 tons (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Date Lost: November 1846
- Place Lost: Michigan side of Lake Michigan (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cause of Loss: Struck shore during a storm; “went ashore with several other vessels” (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Cargo: Not documented
- Crew: No loss of life mentioned (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Ownership: Not specified
Vessel Type
Two-masted wooden schooner, typical of mid-19th‑century lake cargo work.
Description
A small and nimble vessel of just 36 tons, the Savannah was typical of early Great Lakes coastal commerce. Lightly built and reliant on both sail and occasional towing, she traded along the Michigan shoreline.
History
Built at Milwaukee in 1845, the Savannah plied coastal routes but was caught in an early-winter storm in November 1846. Amid rough seas, she and several similar vessels were driven ashore along Michigan’s coastline. Local accounts simply record her as a total loss. (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Final Disposition
Stranded and wrecked ashore in Lake Michigan. Declared a total loss soon after, with no recovery of cargo or vessel.
Located By & Date Found
No records exist of salvage, diving, or formal discovery. The exact wreck site and debris field remain unknown.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational aids mark her remains. The incident is recorded only in storm loss tallies—not retained in registry systems.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – “S” section entry for Savannah (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The Savannah joined several other small schooners lost spontaneously during a surprisingly fierce storm in November 1846 on the Michigan side of Lake Michigan. Though minor in size, her loss is emblematic of how quickly coastal conditions could overwhelm early wooden vessels before modern weather forecasting or storm-season restrictions.
savannah-1845 1846-11-08 12:28:00