Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: STARUCCA
• Type: Package Freight Propeller (Steam Screw)
• Year Built: 1875
• Builder: Buffalo, New York
• Dimensions: Length 218 ft (66.4 m); Beam 35 ft (10.4 m); Depth 14 ft (4.0 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 1,313.09 gross / 1,155.20 net tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 4.5 m / 15 ft
• Location: 10 miles east of Grand Marais, Michigan
• Coordinates: 46°41.106′ N, 85°48.510′ W
• Official Number: 115381
• Original Owners: Unknown
• Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The STARUCCA was a wooden-hulled steam screw package freighter designed to carry both bulk and packaged cargoes throughout the Great Lakes. Equipped with 1,800 nominal horsepower, she was capable of efficient service between major ports, reflecting the transitional era of Great Lakes shipping when wooden hulls were still widely employed despite the rise of iron and steel shipbuilding.

Description

The STARUCCA was a wooden-hulled steam screw package freighter designed to carry both bulk and packaged cargoes throughout the Great Lakes. Equipped with 1,800 nominal horsepower, she was capable of efficient service between major ports, reflecting the transitional era of Great Lakes shipping when wooden hulls were still widely employed despite the rise of iron and steel shipbuilding.

History

Launched in 1875 at Buffalo, New York, STARUCCA served as a package freighter during a period of heavy commercial growth on the Great Lakes. Her career reflected the versatility of wooden steamers that carried everything from general goods to bulk commodities, sustaining regional trade and settlement.

Significant Incidents

On 15 November 1888, STARUCCA stranded roughly 10 miles east of Grand Marais, Michigan, during late-fall navigation on Lake Superior. Weather was reported severe, but precise circumstances remain undocumented. The Port Huron Daily Times of 23 November 1888 noted the loss but offered no clear cause. She was declared a total loss, with no record of salvage operations. The vessel was one of many to succumb to Lake Superior’s notorious November gales.

Final Disposition

The STARUCCA was abandoned following her loss. No confirmed salvage took place. Today, the wreck site lies in shallow water east of Grand Marais, Michigan, within the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve. Shifting sands frequently bury or reveal the wreck remains, leaving the boiler, shaft, and scattered timbers intermittently visible.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck site was identified in the late 20th century, though precise discovery details are undocumented. It is now monitored within the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve. Protected under Michigan’s State Underwater Preserve system, divers are prohibited from artifact removal. Visibility varies due to shifting sands; the site may appear minimal or buried in summer months.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”starucca-us-115381″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

Access to the wreck is available via boat launch from Grand Marais. The depth ranges around 15 ft (4.5 m), with conditions being shallow and visibility variable. Divers are encouraged to respect the site and adhere to the principle of ‘leave only bubbles, take only memories’.