Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Yosemite 27541

Explore the remains of the Yosemite, a wooden freighter lost to fire in 1892, in the waters of Lake Superior.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Yosemite
  • Type: Wooden propeller-driven freighter
  • Year Built: 1867
  • Builder: G. Fordham, Sandusky, Ohio
  • Dimensions: Length 152 ft (46.3 m); Beam 29 ft (8.8 m); Depth of hold 10 ft (3 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 310 GT; 229 NT
  • Location: Off Emerson, Michigan, Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior
  • Official Number: 27541
  • Original Owners: Estes & Co. of Sandusky, Ohio

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Yosemite was a wooden-hulled steam freighter, part of the growing fleet of propeller-driven freighters that replaced traditional schooners in Great Lakes cargo transport during the late 19th century.

Description

Operating primarily as a bulk carrier, she transported coal, grain, lumber, and general freight across the Great Lakes. By the time of her loss in 1892, she had been in service for 25 years, undergoing multiple rebuilds and repairs to extend her lifespan.

History

Her ownership at the time of loss was Estes & Co. of Sandusky, Ohio, and she was commanded by Captain Miller.

Significant Incidents

  • April 30, 1892: The Yosemite was lying at anchor in Whitefish Bay, off Emerson, Michigan, with her barge, Ryan, attached. A fire broke out aboard the vessel, leading to her total loss.

Final Disposition

The burned-out remains of the Yosemite likely sank or were abandoned in Whitefish Bay. Given the ship’s complete destruction, no salvage efforts were recorded.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No confirmed discovery of the wreck has been documented. Given the age and the nature of her loss, any remains would likely be scattered debris rather than an intact wreck.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Yosemite was a veteran freighter of the Great Lakes, serving for over two decades before meeting her fate in Whitefish Bay. Her destruction by fire in 1892 highlights the persistent danger of fire aboard wooden steamers, a common cause of maritime disasters in that era. Though her remains have never been officially located, she remains part of Lake Superior’s long history of lost steamers.