Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Sheridan
- Type: Wood-hulled schooner-barge (originally a sidewheel tug)
- Year Built: 1841
- Builder: Michigan (exact yard unreported)
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage: 219 tons
- Location: Approximately 6 miles above Lexington, Michigan in Lake Huron
- Official Number: None recorded
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Sheridan was originally built as a potent sidewheel tug in 1841, subsequently converted into a robust wooden schooner-barge designed for hauled freight transport, particularly lumber, under tow.
Description
Weighing approximately 219 tons, Sheridan had a hull adapted from her tug origins—likely featuring a stout beam and shallow draft. Repurposed as a barge, she lacked independent propulsion and relied entirely on tow vessels.
History
Active from the early 1840s, she served freight duties across the Great Lakes. On 21 November 1866, during a stormy transit in Lake Huron, Sheridan and her tow-mate Experiment were cast loose. Laden with lumber, both vessels were driven ashore near what is now Lexington, Michigan—Sheridan wrecking in the surf zone while Experiment similarly stranded.
Significant Incidents
- Lost during a storm on 21 November 1866.
- Wrecked ashore while laden with lumber.
- No casualties reported.
Final Disposition
Driven ashore and wrecked; both barges became total losses. The storm-dashed hull of Sheridan likely fragmented by wave action in the surf following grounding.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known rediscovery or formal site survey exists. Wreckage may persist in shallow coastal waters near the grounding site but remains undocumented.
- No hazard buoy or chart marker references this wreck, but remains may pose limited shallow-water navigation risks.
- Limited water depth and shoreline location make it possible for debris to remain accessible or partially exposed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”sheridan-1841″ title=”References & Links”]
Sheridan—a former sidewheel tug turned schooner-barge—foundered 21 November 1866 above Lexington, Michigan after breaking tow in a storm. Laden with lumber, she wrecked ashore without casualties. The site likely lies in the surf zone, unlocated and unmarked.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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