Shotline Diving

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Young America US 27515

Explore the wreck of the Young America, a mid-19th century steamer lost in a storm on Lake Ontario. All passengers survived this remarkable maritime incident.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Young America
  • Type: Wooden propeller-driven steamer
  • Year Built: 1853
  • Builder: Bidwell & Banta, Buffalo, New York
  • Dimensions: 139 ft (42.4 m); Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft (3.4 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 359 tons
  • Location: Near Oak Orchard, New York, Lake Ontario
  • Official Number: 27515
  • Original Owners: Northern Transportation Company

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Young America was a wooden propeller-driven steamer, representative of mid-19th century maritime technology.

Description

The Young America was built in 1853 by Bidwell & Banta in Buffalo, New York. As part of the Great Lakes passenger and freight transport network, she served under the Northern Transportation Company, known for operating steamboats on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

History

The vessel underwent major repairs in 1864, indicating significant wear or damage during her career. Notably, she had previously sunk at Alexandria Bay, New York, in the St. Lawrence River in July 1854, but was salvaged and returned to service. By the early 1870s, she was still operating as a passenger steamer, carrying travelers across the Great Lakes.

Significant Incidents

  • July 1854: Sunk at Alexandria Bay, New York, salvaged and returned to service.
  • 1864: Major repairs undertaken.
  • October 20, 1873: Caught in a storm on Lake Ontario, leading to grounding and destruction.

Final Disposition

The Young America was abandoned as a total loss. In 1874, her engine and boiler were salvaged for possible reuse in another vessel.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There is no known modern discovery of the wreck site, as she was broken apart by waves and weather along the shore. No known modern navigational hazards related to this vessel exist.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Young America was a survivor of multiple accidents, including a sinking in 1854 and major repairs in 1864, before ultimately meeting her fate in 1873 near Oak Orchard, New York. Despite the severe storm and mechanical failure, all 150 passengers were safely evacuated, a remarkable outcome for an era when shipwrecks often resulted in loss of life. Though her wreckage was gradually destroyed, her engine and boiler were salvaged, leaving behind little trace of one of Lake Ontario’s early steamers.