Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the state of Michigan, and Ocean Exploration Trust have discovered an intact wreck of the Ironton resting hundreds of feet below the surface of Lake Huron. [Read more…] about 1873 Schooner Barge Ironton Wreck Discovered in Lake Huron
Shipwrecks
‘Bad Luck Barquentine’ Wreck Found in Lake Superior
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) has discovered the wreck of the 144-foot Barquentine Nucleus. The Nucleus was found under 600 feet of water around 40 miles northwest of Vermilion Point on Lake Superior. [Read more…] about ‘Bad Luck Barquentine’ Wreck Found in Lake Superior
Culture War, Transatlantic Migration & The Wreck of the SS Deutschland
Following the mid-nineteenth century revolution in steamship building, transatlantic passenger transport became a profitable enterprise. Travel went global, giving rise to an intercontinental “travel industry.”
Commercial oceanic transportation boomed. Bremen-based NDL (Norddeutscher Lloyd) and Hamburg-based HAPAG (Hamburg Amerikanische Packetfahrt Aktiengesellschaft) became the largest shipping companies in the world. [Read more…] about Culture War, Transatlantic Migration & The Wreck of the SS Deutschland
Featured Recreation Area: The Sunken Fleet of 1758, Lake George
The Adirondacks remain one of the most sought-after destinations for outdoor recreation. From hiking serene mountain passes to hitting the bike trails, it truly has something for everyone – even historic ship divers.
Lake George was the site of many pivotal engagements in the founding years of our nation, including the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. Evidence of its witness are but a stone’s throw from shore where Fort William Henry, in the cold, dark waters. [Read more…] about Featured Recreation Area: The Sunken Fleet of 1758, Lake George
1984 Wreck of the Wind Blown Off Long Island
In her first book, The Lost Boys of Montauk: The True Story of the Wind Blown, Four Men Who Vanished at Sea, and the Survivors They Left Behind (Gallery Books, 2021), journalist Amanda Fairbanks documents the story of the Wind Blown and the men who lost their lives aboard it in 1984 off the east end of Long Island.
Piecing the story together over years of interviews and research, she unraveled a history of close-knit communities, from the working class east end to the wealthy upper east side. She also found a complicated tale of relationships and personalities that still absorbs people in the community to this day. [Read more…] about 1984 Wreck of the Wind Blown Off Long Island
The Sinking of the Lake George Steamboat John Jay
On July 30th, 1856 the 140-feet long John Jay (built in 1850) was delayed at Ticonderoga’s Baldwin Dock waiting on the stagecoach from Lake Champlain, where the large number of passengers required several trips to get everyone to the boat.
It wasn’t until 7 pm that the Jay, now loaded with 70 people, pulled away from the dock. About an hour later they were ten miles down the lake. Below, the fireman stoked the boilers as they made top speed – then the worst happened. [Read more…] about The Sinking of the Lake George Steamboat John Jay
Underwater Imaging of Seneca Lake Canal Shipwrecks Underway
The Seneca Lake Archaeological and Bathymetric Survey Project is an underwater exploration occurring on Seneca Lake that aims to preserve the history of New York’s canals by using state-of-the-art equipment to capture never-before-seen images of intact canal shipwrecks from the early nineteenth century in the deepest waters of the lake. [Read more…] about Underwater Imaging of Seneca Lake Canal Shipwrecks Underway
Proposed National Marine Sanctuary Highlights Lake Ontario Maritime History
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released a draft proposal for a national marine sanctuary in eastern Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River. The proposed sanctuary designation celebrates Upstate New York’s unique maritime heritage and provides a national stage for promoting the region’s tourism and recreational opportunities. [Read more…] about Proposed National Marine Sanctuary Highlights Lake Ontario Maritime History
Seneca Lake Shipwrecks Program Planned
Arthur B. Cohn is set to present “What Lies Beneath: Stories from Seneca Lake” at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site on Tuesday, September 24th at 6:30 pm.
The talk will focus on the first two seasons of the Seneca Lake survey and the significant shipwreck discoveries that will add to the understanding of the canal era when horses and mules walked the towpath. Cohn will also outline the history of the Seneca Lake region and, based on his four decades of Lake Champlain experience, the logical expectation that shipwrecks would be present. [Read more…] about Seneca Lake Shipwrecks Program Planned
Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario Talk At Sackets Harbor
Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario: A Journey of Discovery, a presentation by Great Lakes shipwreck explorer Jim Kennard, has been set for Thursday August 1st, 2019 at 6:30 pm, at the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site.
Kennard’s presentation includes stories of long-lost shipwrecks and their underwater exploration. [Read more…] about Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario Talk At Sackets Harbor