Traveler (1852)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Traveler
• Type: Sidewheel Steamer
• Year Built: 1852
• Builder: J.L. Wolverton, Newport, Michigan
• Dimensions: 199.11 ft (60.7 m) x 29 ft (8.8 m) x 10.1 ft (3.1 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 603 tons (old measurement)
• Depth at Wreck Site: 6.1 m / 20 ft
• Location: Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior
• Coordinates: 47° 27.557′ N, 88° 09.133′ W – unconfirmed
• Official Number: [Unknown – archival search ongoing]
• Original Owners: Eber B. Wood & Samuel Ward (original); later John Hutchings, Detroit
• Number of Masts: [Unknown]

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Traveler was a wooden-hulled sidewheel steamer typical of mid-19th century Great Lakes design. Built with a single deck and powered by side-mounted paddle wheels, she served both passenger and cargo routes. Her shallow draft and long hull were optimized for inland navigation and coastal service.

Description

The Traveler was a wooden-hulled sidewheel steamer typical of mid-19th century Great Lakes design. Built with a single deck and powered by side-mounted paddle wheels, she served both passenger and cargo routes. Her shallow draft and long hull were optimized for inland navigation and coastal service.

History

Commissioned in 1852, Traveler was built at Newport, Michigan, by shipbuilder J.L. Wolverton. Her early service included freight and passenger runs between Detroit and other Great Lakes ports. She experienced several incidents: a broken shaft in April 1854, a collision with the schooner Kirk in May, and a fire at Chicago in July 1854. Ownership transferred multiple times, including to Stephan Clement (Chicago) in 1855 and to John Hutchings (Detroit) by 1862.

Traveler met her final fate on 17 August 1865 when a fire broke out while she was moored at Eagle Harbor, Michigan. The fire destroyed the vessel. Details regarding loss of life or cargo remain undocumented in available sources.

Significant Incidents

• April 1854: Broken shaft.
• May 1854: Collision with the schooner Kirk.
• July 1854: Fire at Chicago.
• 17 August 1865: Fire at Eagle Harbor leading to total loss.

Final Disposition

Burned at dock at Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior, 17 August 1865. The hull was a total loss. Portions of the wreck are submerged in shallow gravel at the site.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The site has been documented by local divers and surveyed for 3D imaging. The exact date of formal discovery is unknown. Divers should be aware of mixed wreckage at the site including unrelated 20th-century debris.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”traveler-1852″ title=”References & Links”]

Access to the wreck site is by boat, with generally good visibility. The wreck is partially obscured by gravel and sediment, lying at a depth of 20 ft (6.1 m). Emergency contacts include USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie and Keweenaw County Sheriff. No permits are required for non-invasive recreational diving.