Shipwrecks


The waters of Lake Superior off the Keweenaw Peninsula have proven to be treacherous to ship and crew alike. The remains of these misfortunes can now be found on the bottom of the lake, in some of the most spectacular fresh water diving adventures in the world.

The LANGHAM is a wooden steamer that burned at anchor on October 23, 1910 and now rests in 90-105 feet of water near Bete Gris.

The MESQUITE is a steel Coast Guard Cutter that ran aground on December 4, 1989 at Keweenaw Point. It was later sunk in Keystone Bay as a dive site. The top deck is at 100 feet and except for the super-structure is completely intact.

The SCOTIA was a 231 foot iron steamer that sank on October 24, 1884. The remaining hull consisting of engine mounts, drive shafts and one prop now lies in 15 feet of water near Keweenaw Point.

The WASAGA was a 238 foot wooden Canadian steamer that burned and sank on November 6, 1910. Much of the cargo consisting of clay pipes, refractory bricks, and farm machinery can be found along with a large wooded hull section resting in 25-35 feet of water in Copper Harbor.

The CITY OF ST. JOSEPH was a 254 foot steel barge that sank on September 21, 1942 while being towed to shore and now rests at 35 feet in Eagle Harbor.

The TRAVELLER, a 199 foot wooden sidewheel steamer burned and sank on August 17, 1865. Remains of the paddle wheel and other structural pieces can be found at a depth of 20 feet in Eagle Harbor.

The remains of the PICKANDS, a 233 foot wooden steamer; the COLORADO, a 255 foot wooden propeller; the FERN, a 65 foot tug; the TIOGA, a 286 foot iron package freighter; and the MORELAND, a 580 foot steel steamer wich sunk on October 18, 1910 can be found in 35 feet of water on the Sawtooth Reef near Eagle River.

Though little remains of the PENINSULA or the JOHN JACOB ASTOR, the web site is worth a visit.

Shipwrecks are marked with bouys from mid-June through mid-September. Michigan State Law prohibits removal of any artifacts from the Keweenaw Underwater Preserve.

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