Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: TECUMSEH
• Type: Barge, Wood
• Year Built: 1853
• Builder: Chatham, Ontario
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: 82 tons
• Location: Near Port Huron, Michigan
• Official Number: C (Unconfirmed)
• Original Owners: Unknown
• Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The TECUMSEH was a wooden barge, a type of unpowered vessel designed primarily for cargo transport. Barges were often towed by steam tugs or propeller-driven vessels, especially on the Great Lakes, where they were key components in bulk shipping operations. Their flat-bottomed design allowed for easy loading and unloading of heavy materials like lumber, coal, grain, or stone.

Believed to have been constructed around 1853 in Chatham, Ontario, the TECUMSEH served during a period of rapid expansion in Great Lakes commerce. As a wooden barge, she would have been used primarily in bulk freight transport, likely moving between Canadian and U.S. ports on Lake Huron.

While specific details about her operational history are scarce, vessels like the TECUMSEH were commonly employed to carry cargoes such as timber, grain, coal, or industrial materials. Her relatively small tonnage (82 tons) suggests she was likely part of a tow convoy, pulled by larger steam-powered tugs.

Description

The TECUMSEH was lost offshore near Port Huron, Michigan, in 1881. Unfortunately, no specific details regarding the circumstances of her loss have been recorded. This lack of information was not uncommon for barges during this era, as many such vessels were considered expendable compared to their powered counterparts, and less attention was given to documenting their fates unless there was significant loss of life or cargo.

Given the region’s hazardous shoals, unpredictable weather, and busy shipping lanes, her loss could have been due to:

• Severe weather conditions (common on Lake Huron)
• Structural failure (wooden barges had limited durability over time)
• Accidental collision or grounding
• Towline failure, causing her to drift and eventually sink

History

The story of the TECUMSEH remains one of the many undocumented maritime losses on the Great Lakes. Barges like her played a crucial role in supporting the industrial growth of North America, quietly carrying the bulk of commerce behind the more prominent steamships of the era. Though her exact fate remains a mystery, the TECUMSEH is a reminder of the perils faced by the countless unsung vessels that navigated the treacherous waters of Lake Huron during the 19th century.

Significant Incidents

• Lost offshore near Port Huron, Michigan in 1881.
• No specific details regarding the circumstances of her loss have been recorded.

Final Disposition

The TECUMSEH was lost offshore near Port Huron, Michigan, in 1881. Unfortunately, no specific details regarding the circumstances of her loss have been recorded. This lack of information was not uncommon for barges during this era, as many such vessels were considered expendable compared to their powered counterparts, and less attention was given to documenting their fates unless there was significant loss of life or cargo.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the TECUMSEH wreck is unknown, and it remains a site of interest for divers and maritime historians. As with all shipwrecks, divers are encouraged to practice responsible diving and adhere to the principle of ‘leave only bubbles, take only memories’.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”tecumseh-1853″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The story of the TECUMSEH remains one of the many undocumented maritime losses on the Great Lakes. Barges like her played a crucial role in supporting the industrial growth of North America, quietly carrying the bulk of commerce behind the more prominent steamships of the era. Though her exact fate remains a mystery, the TECUMSEH is a reminder of the perils faced by the countless unsung vessels that navigated the treacherous waters of Lake Huron during the 19th century.