Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Zillah (formerly Edward Smith)
- Type: Steam-screw vessel
- Year Built: 1890
- Builder: West Bay City, Michigan, USA
- Dimensions: 201.7 ft (61.5 m) length × 37.0 ft (11.3 m) beam × 13.0 ft (3.96 m) depth
- Registered Tonnage: 748 t
- Depth at Wreck Site: 76 m / 250 ft
- Location: Whitefish Point, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: ~4 mi off Whitefish Point, Lake Superior (exact unknown)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Type: Steam-screw vessel
Description
Launched as the Edward Smith in 1890, the vessel was a steel-hulled, steam screw freighter built in West Bay City, Michigan. She was renamed Zillah in 1900 and operated as a mid-sized bulk carrier on the Great Lakes, handling commodities like limestone, coal, and grain.
History
Originally the Edward Smith, she served across the Great Lakes during the late 19th century. After being renamed Zillah in 1900, she continued her cargo work into the early 20th century, adapting to evolving trade routes and cargo demands.
Significant Incidents
- On 29 August 1926, near Whitefish Point in Lake Superior, the Zillah entered a summer storm and began to take on water. Crew abandoned ship but were rescued safely by the steamer William B. Schiller with Coast Guard assistance. Following abandonment, the vessel capsized and sank.
Final Disposition
The Zillah was declared a total loss. Her wreck was later located in deep water (~76 m) and lies intact within the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Recorded to lie at approximately 230–250 ft (70–76 m) depth, likely discovered during underwater surveys supporting the creation of the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve. The wreck is relatively intact and is protected under the preserve’s regulations.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”zillah-edward-smith” title=”References & Links”]
All 12 aboard survived the foundering—no fatalities recorded. No known memorials specific to the Zillah crew exist, but the site remains a significant underwater preserve for divers and historians alike.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Identification Card
Name: Zillah (formerly Edward Smith)
Type: Steam-screw vessel
Builder: West Bay City, Michigan, USA
Build Date: 31 March 1890
Dimensions: Approx. 61.5 m (201.7 ft) length × 11.3 m (37.0 ft) beam × 3.96 m (13.0 ft) depth
Gross Tonnage: 748 t
Net Tonnage: 583 t
Hull Material: Steel
Propulsion: Steam engine with single screw
Date of Loss: 29 August 1926
Cause of Loss: Foundered during summer storm—precise cause unrecorded
Location: Whitefish Point, Lake Superior
Depth: ~230–250 ft (70–76 m)—part of Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve wreck roster
Crew: 12 aboard—no casualties
Description
Launched as the Edward Smith in 1890, the vessel was a steel-hulled, steam screw freighter built in West Bay City, Michigan. She was renamed *Zillah* in 1900 and operated as a mid-sized bulk carrier on the Great Lakes, handling commodities like limestone, coal, and grain.
History
Originally the Edward Smith, she served across the Great Lakes during the late 19th century. After being renamed *Zillah* in 1900, she continued her cargo work into the early 20th century, adapting to evolving trade routes and cargo demands.
Final Voyage
On 29 August 1926, near Whitefish Point in Lake Superior, the Zillah entered a summer storm and began to take on water. Crew abandoned ship—but were rescued safely by the steamer William B. Schiller with Coast Guard assistance. Following abandonment, the vessel capsized and sank.
Final Disposition
The Zillah was declared a total loss. Her wreck was later located in deep water (~76 m) and lies intact within the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve.
Located By & Date Found
Recorded to lie at approximately 230–250 ft (70–76 m) depth, likely discovered during underwater surveys supporting the creation of the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve.
NOTMARs & Advisories
No specific Notices to Mariners reference the wreck. However, its site is protected under the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve, which promotes mooring buoys, restricted navigation zones, and diver safety protocols.
Dive Information
- Access: Offshore dive site in Lake Superior’s Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve
- Depth Range: Approximately 70–76 m (230–250 ft)
- Conditions: Cold, deep, low-visibility waters—dry suit and tech diving gear recommended
- Hazards: Depth-related risks, cold temperatures, strong currents, remote offshore location
Crew & Casualty Memorials
All 12 aboard survived the foundering—no fatalities recorded. No known memorials specific to the *Zillah* crew exist.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“In 1900, the Smith was renamed *Zillah*… On 29 August 1926, *Zillah* was transporting a cargo of heavy limestone when she sailed into a summer storm in Whitefish Bay… The crew was rescued without loss by the steamer *William B. Schiller*, with assistance from the Coast Guard. Shortly afterward, the ship rolled over and sank.”
References & Sources
- National Museum of American History – Edward Smith / Zillah ship model and loss details
- ShipwreckExplorers.com – Wreck depth and condition
- Wikipedia – Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve shipwreck list (includes Zillah)
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Wreck Name: Zillah
Other Names: Edward Smith
Coordinates: ~4 mi off Whitefish Point, Lake Superior (exact unknown)
Depth: 70–76 m (230–250 ft)
Vessel Type: Steam screw vessel
Material: Steel
Dimensions: ~61.5 m × 11.3 m × 3.96 m
Condition: Relatively intact wreck within underwater preserve mooring zone
Cause of Loss: Foundering in storm
Discovery Date: ~1975 (underwater surveys for preserve)
Hazards: Cold deep water; offshore currents
Permits Required: Yes—protected site under preserve regulations
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