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.

Lead Image

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

Description

The Wabash was reportedly a wooden-hulled propeller steamer constructed for general freight trade on the upper Great Lakes. She was allegedly powered by a compound steam engine and a single screw. Her hull dimensions and tonnage suggest a mid-sized commercial carrier, suited to carry iron rails, glassware, and general goods between industrial ports.

History

Launched in 1864 by Quayle & Martin in Cleveland, the Wabash was said to have served under the Union Steamboat Company. The vessel reportedly operated between Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago, hauling heavy bulk cargoes during the post–Civil War industrial expansion.

On her final voyage, on 14 August 1866, Wabash departed Buffalo bound for Chicago, carrying railroad iron and glassware. She encountered a gale near Port Huron, began taking on water, and foundered in deep water. Though some of her crew survived, fatalities were reported.

Final Dispositions

Unverified sources indicate the Wabash lies in 140 feet (43 meters) of water near Port Huron, Michigan. Reports describe the hull as largely intact with portions of her cargo—rails or iron rods—visible. However, no conclusive dive, sonar, or photographic evidence has been documented in archival or government wreck registries.

Located By & Date Found

Reportedly discovered by local divers in the 1970s, though no official dive logs or site documentation confirm this. The wreck remains unidentified in official NOAA or state databases.

Notmars & Advisories

None officially issued. Local dive caution is advised due to variable visibility, cold thermocline, and submerged structural hazards.

Dive Information

Access: Boat
Entry Point: Port Huron, MI
Conditions: Variable visibility (15–50 ft); strong seasonal thermoclines; current possible
Depth Range: 135–145 ft (41–44 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sarnia or USCG Sector Detroit
Permits: Not required (unofficial wreck)
Dive Support: Local charters may operate from Port Huron or Lexington

Crew & Casualty Memorials

Crew list and fatalities not documented. No entries found in Find A Grave matching casualties from a Port Huron steamer loss named Wabash in 1866. Search Find A Grave

Documented Statements & Extracts

“No official records located in registry, casualty, or insurance archives confirm the existence or loss of a steamer Wabash matching the described specifications.”
— Preliminary Research Summary, 2025

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

No official number or enrollment documents located in U.S. List of Merchant Vessels (1860s). No insurance claim records found under the name Wabash in contemporary Lloyd’s listings.

Site Documentation & Imaging

No sonar, photographic, or archaeological surveys published or submitted to NOAA or the Michigan Historic Preservation Office for this wreck. No dive reports submitted through official wreck inventory programs.

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. Historical Collections of the Great Lakes, BGSU
2. MaritimeHistoryoftheGreatLakes.ca
3. Great Lakes Vessel History
4. David Swayze’s Shipwreck Files
5. Newspapers.com
6. Find A Grave

NOAA Shipwreck Record Card