Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Sitka (1887)

Explore the wreck of the Sitka, a wooden bulk freighter lost in 1904, now a site for divers near Au Sable Reef in Lake Superior.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Sitka
  • Type: Wooden bulk propeller steamship
  • Year Built: 1887
  • Builder: Frank Wheeler & Co., West Bay City, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 272.5 ft × 40.5 ft × 19.4 ft (83.1 m × 12.3 m × 5.9 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 1,740 gross tons / 1,227 net tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 4.6 m / 15 ft
  • Location: Au Sable Reef (Point Au Sable), Lake Superior
  • Official Number: Unknown / not located
  • Original Owners: Not located in available sources
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Sitka was a wooden-hulled, double-decked bulk freighter powered by steam and driven by a propeller. She had two masts (typical of bulk steamers of her era) and was configured for heavy bulk loads such as iron ore.

Description

Structurally, she would have had heavy oak framing, keelsons, and treenails (wooden pins), consistent with 19th-century shipbuilding practices for wooden bulkers. The double-deck arrangement allowed for cargo holds below and deck structures above, while her steam engine and boiler machinery were housed amidships.

History

After her launch in 1887, Sitka operated in the Great Lakes’ bulk-cargo trades. Her route patterns likely included iron ore from Upper Peninsula ports to steel mills and industrial centres, as was common for bulk freighters of her size and type. Her recorded incident at Kettle Point on 3 May 1893 (grounding and subsequent salvage) demonstrates that Sitka had prior grounding experience. She was freed the following day and continued her voyage. That incident likely required structural inspection and repair but did not lead to total loss.

On her final voyage (4 October 1904), Sitka was downbound, fully laden with iron ore from Marquette, navigating in heavy fog and high winds. She departed her normal course too close to shore and struck Au Sable Reef (off Point Au Sable), Scotland County, Michigan, on Lake Superior. The hull was breached, water inundated her cargo holds, and she filled with water. The local Lifesavers from Grand Marais, Michigan, responded and rescued all 17 crew members.

Significant Incidents

  • 3 May 1893: Grounding at Kettle Point, subsequently salvaged.
  • 4 October 1904: Stranded on Au Sable Reef in heavy fog and high winds, leading to total loss.

Final Disposition

Following the stranding and flooding, Sitka was abandoned by her crew due to worsening seas and inability to refloat her. The rising waves and reef action broke her apart, dispersing structural elements and machinery over the reef zone. Over time, portions of the wreck (keelsons, timbers, hull remains) have been shifted by wave action, currents, and ice. Some large timbers are exposed just outside the breaker zone or along shallow reef flats. The disaster is classified as a total loss.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck lies in shallow reef zones near shore; portions may be a hazard to small craft or divers near shore in break zones. However, no modern navigation notices (NOTMARs) specifically list Sitka as an obstruction. The National Park Service cautions to leave wreck remnants in place (protected status).

Resources & Links

All 17 crew members aboard Sitka were rescued safely; no fatalities. Further archival research may uncover identities of the crew members. The wreck remains a significant site for divers, emphasizing the importance of ethical diving practices—leave only bubbles, take only memories.