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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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