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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

Description

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. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

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. (Your supplied grounding event at Kettle Point in 1893 aligns with the kind of risks these vessels faced in navigation close to shore.)

Her recorded incident at Kettle Point on 3 May 1893 (grounding and subsequent salvage) demonstrates that *Sitka* had prior grounding experience. According to your data, 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.

Final Dispositions

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.

Located By & Date Found

No formal “discovery expedition” is recorded in published sources. The wreck has long been recognized locally and appears in National Park Service documentation of Pictured Rocks shipwrecks.

Sitka’s remains are visually mingled with those of Gale Staples (wrecked 1918) around Au Sable Reef, complicating precise identification of structural elements.

Notmars & Advisories

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. National Park Service cautions to leave wreck remnants in place (protected status).

Dive Information

Access: Boat (preferred) or extremely shallow‑reef snorkel from beach in calm conditions
Entry Point: Via Pictured Rocks shoreline near Au Sable Point reef, beach access via trail from Hurricane River / Au Sable Light area
Conditions: Strong surf, wave action and shifting sands/rocks create hazardous conditions; visibility can vary; reef currents and breaker zones may pose risk
Depth Range: ~3 to 15 ft (1 to 4.6 m) over reef flats and breaker zone areas; deeper patches under some large structural elements
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie (Michigan), local Munising or Pictured Rocks ranger offices
Permits: Diving or visitation likely subject to regulations of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore — check with NPS
Dive Support: Local boat charters from Munising / Pictured Rocks area; ranger-led interpretation or guided tours may include shipwreck information

Crew & Casualty Memorials

All 17 crew members aboard *Sitka* were rescued safely; no fatalities.

I did not locate individual crew names or memorial listings (Find A Grave, personnel cards) in the sources reviewed. Further archival research (local newspapers, lifesaving station records, personnel archives) may uncover identities.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“Pieces of these two ships can be seen on the beach just west of the Au Sable Light Station. Numerous other pieces of these wrecks are lying on the reef in shallow water.”

“The *Sitka* stranded on October 4, 1904, in heavy fog and high winds. Downbound and loaded with iron ore, the ship ran aground, filled with water and was abandoned in heavy seas. Lifesavers from Grand Marais rescued all 17 men from the ship.”

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

I was unable to locate *Sitka’s* official registry or enrollment records in the sources consulted. No insurance claim records linked to the wreck were located. These records might be found in U.S. or Michigan state maritime archives (e.g. U.S. Bureau of Navigation, Michigan Secretary of State maritime records), or in Great Lakes shipping insurance archives.

Site Documentation & Imaging

NPS documentation of Pictured Rocks shipwrecks includes photographic mapping of the reef wreck area (with *Sitka* mingled among other wrecks)

Underwater site surveys have not been publicly documented in detailed form (e.g. no published 3D models or lidar surveys). Wreck elements visible above the waterline (keelsons, timbers) are periodically photographed and included in interpretive trail materials.

Image Gallery

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
• Newspapers.com
• Find A Grave

References

1. “Shipwrecks — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Sitka and Gale Staples.” National Park Service.
2. “Shipwrecks of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore” in *Shipwrecks!* brochure, NPS (text and illustrations).
3. Baillod.com, *Munising Area Shipwrecks* (Sitka entry).
4. Michigan Underwater Preserve / Alger Preserve site: Sitka description.
5. Local historical blog “Wrecked” (Sitka narrative) with salvage / photo recollections.
6. Additional references: Great Lakes Drive shipwreck page (Sitka summary)

NOAA Shipwreck Record Card