Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Troy
- Type: Propeller steamship
- Year Built: 1849
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length: 163 ft (49.68 m); Beam: 21 ft (6.40 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft (3.05 m)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 28.65 m / 94 ft
- Location: Lake Huron, near Michigan
- Coordinates: N 44° 08.654′, W 83° 01.940′
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A wooden-hulled steam-driven cargo and passenger vessel of the “propeller” class, which marked a transition from sidewheel to screw propulsion on the Great Lakes.
Description
Built during the formative years of steam navigation, Troy employed a single expansion steam engine driving a screw propeller—providing a more compact and efficient design than paddle steamers. Her dimensions and engine class suggest she was used for mixed cargo and limited passenger service, likely operating between Lake Erie and Lake Huron ports.
History
Troy entered service in 1849 at a time of rapid growth in maritime traffic on the Great Lakes. Steam-powered vessels were key to linking developing inland ports with commercial hubs. Like many of her contemporaries, Troy performed dual service: ferrying passengers and general freight. No detailed logs survive, but her operational history is characteristic of mid-19th-century wooden steamers.
In 1859, she was lost in Lake Huron under unclear circumstances. While adverse weather and mechanical failure are cited as possibilities, there is no definitive record of the sinking event or cargo manifest. The wreck’s condition suggests a sudden event without major hull fragmentation.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: 1859-03-14
- Loss Circumstances: Cause officially undetermined; likely candidates include structural failure, mechanical breakdown, or storm-induced swamping.
Final Disposition
Troy sank in 1859, cause officially undetermined. Likely candidates include structural failure, mechanical breakdown, or storm-induced swamping.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck was discovered and documented at a depth of 28.65 m (94 ft) in Lake Huron near Michigan. The wreck lies largely flattened and broken due to its long submersion and the weight of sediment over time. Despite its condition, several key components remain visible, including the tall single-expansion steam engine, remains of the vessel’s boiler, and the propeller.
Resources & Links
Troy is a significant artifact of early steam navigation on the Great Lakes. As a wooden-hulled propeller vessel from the late 1840s, her design and operation illustrate the transitional phase from sail to steam. The well-preserved wreck site in Lake Huron remains a compelling destination for intermediate to advanced divers and a point of study for maritime historians.