Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

York State US 27514

Explore the wreck of the York State, a wooden schooner lost in 1886, located near Giant’s Island in Georgian Bay. A site of historical significance for divers.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: York State
  • Type: Wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1857
  • Builder: F. N. Jones, Buffalo, New York
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 303 GT
  • Location: Giant's Island, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
  • Official Number: 27514

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The York State was a wooden schooner designed for the grain and bulk cargo trade, part of the Great Lakes fleet.

Description

The York State was a mid-19th-century wooden schooner built in Buffalo, New York, in 1857. She was designed for transporting grain and bulk cargo, primarily between Midwest grain ports like Chicago and Eastern Canadian milling centers like Midland, Ontario.

History

During her nearly 30-year career, the vessel underwent two significant rebuilds—one in 1869 at Ashtabula, Ohio, and another in 1883, possibly to extend her working life or increase her capacity. These rebuilds indicate she was well-used but also required major maintenance to keep her operational.

Significant Incidents

  • October 20, 1886: The York State ran aground on Giant’s Island in Georgian Bay while carrying a load of grain from Chicago to Midland, Ontario.
  • Her hull filled with water and was badly damaged due to the swelling of her grain cargo, which forced the hull apart.

Final Disposition

With her hull breached beyond repair, the York State was abandoned as a total loss. There is no record of salvage, and it is likely that her remains deteriorated naturally over time in the waters off Giant’s Island.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No confirmed modern discovery of wreckage has been documented. However, Giant’s Island remains a well-known shipwreck site in Georgian Bay, with many vessels meeting a similar fate on its rocky shores.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The York State was a veteran grain schooner, operating on the Great Lakes for nearly 30 years before her accidental grounding and destruction in 1886. Her fate demonstrates the perils of carrying grain cargo in wooden ships, where water exposure could lead to catastrophic expansion and structural failure. Though her exact wreck site remains undocumented, she is one of many lost vessels near Giant’s Island, a notorious hazard in Georgian Bay.