Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Wisconsin
• Type: Iron-hulled passenger and package freight propeller steamer
• Year Built: 1881
• Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Company, Wyandotte, Michigan
• Dimensions: 204 ft × 35 ft × 12 ft (62.2 m × 10.7 m × 3.7 m); rebuilt 1920 to 209 ft × 41 ft × 21 ft (63.7 m × 12.5 m × 6.4 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 1,921 gross tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 36 m / 120 ft
• Location: Off Kenosha, Wisconsin
• Coordinates: 42° 31.949′ N, 087° 42.524′ W
• Official Number: US 80861
• Original Owners: Goodrich Transit Company

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type: Iron-hulled passenger and package freight propeller steamer

Description

The Wisconsin was built in 1881 by the Detroit Dry Dock Company for the Goodrich Transit Line. The vessel was intended for passenger and package freight service across Lake Michigan, serving ports between Chicago, Milwaukee, and other western lakeshore communities.

History

During its long career, the Wisconsin underwent several reconstructions and name changes, reflecting its evolving roles:

• 1899: Renamed Naomi and lengthened and modernized.
• 1909: Became E.G. Crosby, continuing passenger service.
• 1918: Renamed Gen. Robert M. O’Reilly, used as a military transport during World War I.
• 1920: Renamed Pilgrim and rebuilt again for civilian use.
• 1924: Returned to the name Wisconsin, serving in the Goodrich fleet until her loss.

Significant Incidents

Final Voyage (1929): On October 29, 1929, the Wisconsin was sailing from Milwaukee to Chicago with a cargo of machine tools, automobiles, and 76 people aboard when it encountered a severe autumn storm on Lake Michigan. The ship attempted to wait out the storm off Kenosha, Wisconsin, but was overwhelmed by the powerful waves and foundered. The U.S. Coast Guard attempted a rescue but was unable to break through the high seas. Local fisherman Cliff Chambers and his crew, aboard the 52-foot fish tug Chambers Bros., braved the storm and managed to save over 30 lives. Despite heroic rescue efforts, 18 people perished in the disaster. The wreck was declared an unrecoverable total loss.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the Wisconsin remains a popular dive site, offering a glimpse into early 20th-century lake travel and industry. It is protected under Michigan State Law.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The Wisconsin remains relatively intact for a ship of its age. The hull is mostly upright but shows damage from the storm and decades underwater. Artifacts such as boilers, winches, and portions of the superstructure remain visible. Divers have reported finding intact cargo, including machine parts and vehicles.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Wisconsin was a veteran of the Great Lakes, serving for nearly 50 years under multiple names. Its final tragedy in the 1929 storm and the heroic rescue efforts that followed cement its place in Great Lakes history.

wisconsin-naomi-e-g-crosby-gen-robert-m-oreilly-pilgrim-us-80861

1929-10-29 07:55:00