Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Wyandotte (1833)

Explore the wreck of the Wyandotte, a wooden schooner lost in a storm in 1853, resting in 75 feet of Lake Erie.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Wyandotte
  • Type: Wooden Schooner (Two-Masted Sailing Vessel)
  • Year Built: 1833
  • Builder: Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), Ohio
  • Dimensions: Length: 79 ft (24.1 m); Beam: 23 ft (7.0 m); Depth of hold: 9 ft (2.7 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 141 tons (old measurement)
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 23 m / 75 ft
  • Location: Approximately 15 miles east of Erie, Pennsylvania
  • Official Number: None (pre-registration era)
  • Original Owners: Buffalo, New York
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Wyandotte was a classic two-masted schooner, built in Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), Ohio, in 1833. Like many schooners of the early 19th century, she was used in the Great Lakes trade, likely carrying grain, coal, lumber, and general cargo between Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, and other ports.

Description

The Wyandotte was originally built with dimensions of 70 feet (21.3 meters) in length, 22 feet (6.7 meters) in beam, and 7 feet (2.1 meters) in depth. After a rebuild in 1841, her dimensions changed to 79 feet (24.1 meters) in length, 23 feet (7.0 meters) in beam, and 9 feet (2.7 meters) in depth, with a tonnage of 141 tons. The vessel was constructed of wood and was sail-powered.

History

The Wyandotte was rebuilt in 1841, increasing her length, depth, and tonnage to accommodate larger cargo loads. Despite being two decades old by 1853, she continued to operate in the coal trade on Lake Erie.

Final Voyage & Loss (October 20, 1853)

The Wyandotte was downbound on Lake Erie, carrying a load of coal to an unknown port, possibly Buffalo, New York. A storm moved across Lake Erie, creating strong winds and heavy waves. The vessel sprang a leak while navigating the rough waters, and the crew was unable to control the flooding. The crew abandoned ship in the lifeboat and successfully made it to shore. The schooner quickly sank beneath the waves, where she has remained since.

Significant Incidents

  • The Wyandotte sprang a leak while navigating rough waters during a storm.
  • The crew abandoned ship and made it to shore safely.
  • The vessel sank in 75 feet of water.

Final Disposition

The Wyandotte was valued at $2,000 at the time of her loss. No efforts were made to salvage or recover the vessel, as wooden ships were often abandoned after sinking.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wooden hull may still be largely intact, as the cold freshwater of Lake Erie preserves shipwrecks well. The Wyandotte‘s coal cargo may still be present on the lakebed. The wreck could be a target for divers and sonar searches, given its known location and manageable depth.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Wyandotte (1833–1853) was a wooden two-masted schooner built in Lower Sandusky, Ohio, and rebuilt in 1841 to increase its size and cargo capacity. She was lost in a storm on October 20, 1853, after springing a leak and sinking in 75 feet of water east of Erie, Pennsylvania. Her coal cargo, along with possible remnants of her wooden hull, may still be preserved on the lakebed. While her wreck has never been officially identified, she remains an important example of early Great Lakes schooner commerce, particularly in the Lake Erie coal trade.