Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Shakespeare
- Type: Wooden brig
- Year Built: 1848
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Pilot Island, Lake Michigan
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A two-masted wooden brig, designed for the rigorous shipping of bulk cargo such as lumber across the Great Lakes.
Description
In mid-June 1858, Shakespeare was caught in a gale and driven ashore on Pilot Island, Lake Michigan. The storm-stricken brig broke apart, and by June 26 the salvage brig Pilgrim arrived to strip any recoverable material. The vessel was beyond salvage recovery, though parts may have been refitted into other hulls.
History
Declared a total loss after breaking upon grounding. Remnants were later stripped, likely by Pilgrim, with parts possibly recycled. The wreck is presumed destroyed; no structural remnants remain.
Significant Incidents
- No modern survey exists. The incident is documented in 19th-century salvage records but lacks archaeological follow-up.
Final Disposition
No official Notices to Mariners record Shakespeare as a hazard. Pilot Island remains charted, and this wreck is one of several historic strandings in the area.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The brief profile of Shakespeare reflects its fate as a typical lumber brig undone by a spring gale. Though no physical remains are expected to survive, its documented breaking and salvage underscore economic practices of the era. The brig contributes to the catalog of sunk or stranded wooden vessels on Lake Michigan—and while her story is complete, it remains grounded in local heritage.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”shakespeare-1848″ title=”References & Links”]
The brief profile of Shakespeare reflects its fate as a typical lumber brig undone by a spring gale. Though no physical remains are expected to survive, its documented breaking and salvage underscore economic practices of the era. The brig contributes to the catalog of sunk or stranded wooden vessels on Lake Michigan—and while her story is complete, it remains grounded in local heritage.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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