Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Young America
- Type: Wooden, two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: George Rogers, Oswego, New York
- Dimensions: Length: 124 ft (37.8 m); Beam: 25 ft (7.6 m); Depth: 10 ft (3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 331 tons Tonnage (Old Style)
- Depth at Wreck Site: 61 m / 200 ft
- Location: Northeast of Racine, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: None
- Original Owners: Clemow & Bloore
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Young America was a large two-masted wooden schooner.
Description
The Young America was built in 1854 in Oswego, New York, by shipbuilder George Rogers. She was part of the thriving grain and cargo trade on the Great Lakes.
History
The vessel operated on a regular route between Chicago and Oswego, carrying salt westward to Chicago and returning loaded with grain (primarily corn and wheat) for the East Coast markets. This trade route was critical in the mid-19th century, as Oswego served as a major transshipment hub connecting Great Lakes commerce to the Erie Canal and Atlantic trade routes.
Significant Incidents
- On September 23, 1855, the Young America was en route from Chicago to Oswego with a cargo of 17,000 bushels of corn when she collided with the schooner Black Hawk northeast of Racine, Wisconsin, in Lake Michigan.
- The collision proved catastrophic, and the Young America sank quickly in approximately 200 feet (61 m) of water.
- No casualties were reported, but the loss was financially significant, estimated at over $25,000—a considerable sum in 1855.
Final Disposition
The ship was not salvaged, likely due to the depth of the wreck and the limited recovery technology of the mid-19th century. Her cargo of corn would have quickly deteriorated underwater, making any salvage effort economically unfeasible.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There is no confirmed modern discovery of the wreck. If located, the vessel could be relatively well-preserved due to the cold, deep waters of Lake Michigan. No modern navigational hazards related to this vessel are documented, but the depth of 200 feet places her beyond easy diving access, meaning her wreck remains largely unexplored.
Resources & Links
References are being reviewed for this wreck.
The Young America was a relatively new schooner, lost just one year after her construction. She was part of the vital grain trade on the Great Lakes, moving goods between the Midwest and the East Coast. Her collision with the Black Hawk ended her career abruptly, sending her and 17,000 bushels of corn to the depths of Lake Michigan. Though her wreck has yet to be located, it remains an important piece of early Great Lakes maritime history.