Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Sioux (c1890)

Explore the remains of the Sioux, a wooden steam harbor tug scuttled in Milwaukee Harbor around 1918, with a depth of 0-20 ft.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Sioux
  • Type: Wooden steam harbor tug
  • Year Built: ca. 1890s
  • Builder: Unknown (likely Milwaukee or Chicago)
  • Dimensions: Estimated Length: 55–65 ft (16.7–19.8 m); Beam: ~16 ft (4.9 m); Draft: ~6–7 ft (1.8–2.1 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: Approx. 35–45 gross tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 20 ft
  • Location: Milwaukee Harbor, near the north breakwall
  • Coordinates: Approx. 43° 01.465′ N / 87° 54.022′ W
  • Official Number: Unknown (likely unregistered)
  • Original Owners: Ownership history is partially undocumented

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Sioux is classified as a wooden steam harbor tug, designed for local towing and assistance duties within harbor environments.

Description

Constructed in the ca. 1890s, the Sioux was a wooden vessel with an estimated length of 55 to 65 feet and a beam of approximately 16 feet. It was powered by steam propulsion with a single screw and had a gross tonnage of around 35 to 45 tons. The tug was likely home-ported in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

History

The Sioux served primarily as a local harbor tug, performing general towing and assistance duties. Records from the 1910s indicate that it was utilized in municipal or private harbor service, although specific ownership details remain unclear. Throughout its service, there are no significant casualty reports, suggesting a typical workboat career.

Significant Incidents

  • Sioux was dismantled and abandoned in Milwaukee Harbor during the summer of 1918.
  • It was scuttled near the north breakwall and city garbage plant, a known site for out-of-service harbor craft.
  • No lives were lost during its abandonment.

Final Disposition

After being abandoned, the Sioux was likely scuttled adjacent to the tug Golden. Over time, harbor infill, dredging, and breakwall extensions may have buried or scattered the remains of the vessel.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The site of the Sioux is currently considered a non-navigational hazard. Modern sonar technology may be able to identify any buried wreckage near the north breakwall.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”sioux-c1890″ title=”References & Links”]

The Sioux represents the routine disposal practices of wooden harbor tugs in early 20th-century Great Lakes ports, where vessels were often stripped and scuttled rather than formally scrapped.

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.

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Sioux
  • Former Names: None documented
  • Official Number: Unknown (likely unregistered as a harbor tug)
  • Built: ca. 1890s (exact year and yard not definitively documented, likely Milwaukee or Chicago)
  • Vessel Type: Wooden steam harbor tug
  • Dimensions:
    • Estimated Length: 55–65 ft (16.7–19.8 m)
    • Beam: ~16 ft (4.9 m)
    • Draft: ~6–7 ft (1.8–2.1 m)
  • Tonnage: Approx. 35–45 gross tons (harbor tug range)
  • Propulsion: Steam, single screw
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Masts: 0
  • Home Port: Likely Milwaukee, WI

Location:

  • Body of Water: Milwaukee Harbor / Lake Michigan
  • County: Milwaukee
  • Nearest City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Coordinates: Approx. 43° 01.465’ N / 87° 54.022’ W
  • Depth: 0–20 ft (shallow scuttling site along north breakwall)

Service History

  • Sioux served as a local harbor tug, performing general towing and assistance duties.
  • Ownership history is partially undocumented, but records from the 1910s list her among vessels used in municipal or private harbor service.
  • No significant casualty reports exist, indicating a typical harbor workboat career.

Final Voyage & Disposition

  • Summer 1918: Sioux was dismantled and abandoned in Milwaukee Harbor near the north breakwall and city garbage plant, a known scuttling site for out‑of‑service harbor craft.
  • Likely scuttled adjacent to the tug Golden.
  • No lives lost.
  • Over time, harbor infill, dredging, and breakwall extensions may have buried or scattered the remains.

Research Notes

  • Hydrographic charts and harbor surveys (c. 1915–1925) may indicate scuttling locations; Milwaukee Harbor “wreck reports” often listed by generic name “abandoned tug.”
  • Municipal archives and C.H. Starke Dredge Co. records may confirm whether Sioux was company-owned or municipally leased before abandonment.
  • The site is non-navigational hazard today; modern sonar may identify buried wreckage near the north breakwall.

Resources & References

  • Wisconsin Historical Society – Harbor Wrecks Index
  • NOAA Chart 14924 – Milwaukee Harbor
  • Milwaukee Harbor Master Logs (1915–1922)
  • Baillod, Brendon. Harbor Wrecks of Milwaukee (private notes and field surveys)
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Harbor Disposal Maps

Historical Context

Both Sioux and Golden represent the routine disposal of wooden harbor tugs in early 20th‑century Great Lakes ports. These vessels, once vital for harbor commerce, were stripped and scuttled rather than formally scrapped due to low salvage value and local disposal convenience.

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