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The bottom of the Great Lakes is the resting place of thousands of ships that have sunk over the last 400 years. These shipwrecks can be found across all five Great Lakes, including many in eastern Lake Ontario near Kingston.

Select a nautical chart to discover the wrecks.

Click on one of the link to learn about the lakes and their famous shipwrecks.

Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Lake Superior

Lake Superior Wrecks

Madeira

Type: Schooner-barge

Sank: November 28, 1905

The Madeira was under tow behind a steamer when both ships were caught in a fierce storm.

The captainof the steamer decided to cut the barge loose to save his own ship. The Madeira was left powerless and drifted into a cliff and sank.

Eight crew made it to shore, but the first mate went down with the ship.

The Madeira in calm waters being guided by tugboat along its stern. A flag is raised on the foremost of its three sailless masts and sailors are visible on the foredeck deck.

Madeira on the water guided by tug.
Date:Circa 1900. Source:Copyright University of Detroit Mercy Fr. Edward J. Dowling, S.J. Marine Historical Collection..

The Madeira is moored next to train tracks that run along the snowy shore of a loading port. A loading arm is filling its cargo hold from above.

The Madeira being loaded with cargo.
Date:Circa 1900. Source:Copyright University of Detroit Mercy Fr. Edward J. Dowling, S.J. Marine Historical Collection..

Hesper

Type: Steam Freighter

Sank: May 4, 1905

Launched in 1890, the Hesper was a wooden-hulled steamer used to transport iron ore and grain.

Her 15-year career ended when she was caught in a spring storm and 100km per hour winds.

The Hesper slammed into a reef but luckily the crew escaped in lifeboats before it sank.

The bulk freight steamer Hesperat floating idle near shore, a brick warehouse and chimney visible along the shore behind.

The Hesper docked at port.
Date:Circa 1890 1905. Source:Photographer unknown.
Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, Great Lakes Maritime Collection..

A vew onto the wooden remains of the Hesper wreck lying on the lake bottom, long bolts rising upwards out of wooden timbers with other timbers scattered nearby.

Underwater remains of the Hesper's hull.
Date:2009. Source:Photo by Tamara Thomsen..

SS Kamloops

Type: Steam Freighter

Sank: December 7, 1927

The Kamloops was last seen steaming through a storm, her deck heavily coated with ice on December 6th, the day before she sank. The remains of 9 of the 22 crew members were recovered months later.

The next year, a trapper found a note in a bottle that read: "I am the last one left alive, freezing and starving to death on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. I just want my mom and dad to know my fate." It was signed by Alice Betteridge, an assistant stewardess on the Kamloops.

50 years later the shipwreck was located northwest of Isle Royale.

The Kamloops steaming near shore with the captian leaning on the railing on upper forward deck. White text on the bright red hull reads Canada Steamship Lines.

The Kamloops steaming underway.
Date:Circa 1890-1905. Source:From the collections of the Great Lakes Museum..

Two divers swim next to two open hatches into the engine room of the Kamloops wreck, their floodlights illuminating the rusting wreck in very dark water.

The engine room of the Kamloops.
Date:2017. Source:Photographer Becky Kagan Schott / Liquid Productions copyright..

Monarch

Type: Passenger-Package Freighter

Sank: December 6, 1906

The Monarch left Thunder Bay ina blinding snowstorm and crashed headlong into the rocks of Isle Royale, where the bow remained hung up on the shoreline rocks. All crewand passengers but one managed to disembark onto shore, where they survived for four days while awaiting rescue.

The Monarch steaming underway, with smoke billowing from a stack and many flags visible above the deck. The hull shows the original white paint, and passengers stand on deck near the bow.

The Monarch steaming underway.
Date:Circa late 19th century. Source:From the collection of Bowling Green State University Historical Collections of the Great Lakes..

A SCUBA diver swims over a section of the wreck of the Monarch, holding a camera rig. Long bolts stick out the metal section of hull.

Underwater remains of the Monarch's deck.
Date:2005. Source:Photographer Yung Yip.

Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan Wrecks

Frank O'Connor

Type: Bulk Carrier Steamer

Sank: October 3, 1919

The wood-hulled Frank O'Connor was carrying 3,000 tons of coal when a fire broke out in the bow section, destroying the steering gear and leaving the ship adrift.

The crew boarded lifeboats and were towed to safety by the Cana Island lighthouse keeper who saw the fire 2 miles away.

The ship burned into the night and eventually sank.

The Frank O'Connor in a dry dock in Buffalo New York. Port buildings visible all around and a larger steamer is in the background.

The Frank O'Connor in dry dock at Buffalo, NY.
Date:Unknown. Source:From the collection of Bowling Green State University Historical Collections of the Great Lakes..

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Wreck debris field of Frank O'Connor stern section.
Date:2010. Source:Photographer Tamara Thomsen, Wisconsin Historical Society..

Carl D. Bradley

Type: Self-unloading freighter

Sank: November 18, 1958

The Carl D. Bradley was on its way to receive one last load of cargo at the end of the season when it was caught in a violent storm. Its steel hull broke open and the ship flooded.

Four of 35 crew members reached a life raft that was thrown clear of the sinking ship, but only two survived. They were found the next day drifting 17 miles away. 33 crew members were lost and 15 are still unaccounted for.

The deck of the Carl D. Bradley seen from above as the ship moves in calm water.

The Carl D. Bradley underway.
Date:Unknown. Source:Copyright University of Detroit Mercy Fr. Edward J. Dowling, S.J. Marine Historical Collection..

In port, coal flows out of the self-unloader of the Carl D. Bradley into a hopper on shore. In the foreground, two stooped men peer into an opening one of the cargo holds.

The Carl D. Bradley self-unloading in hopper at Michigan Limestone.
Date:1958. Source:Presque Isle County Museum..

Rouse Simmons

Type: Three-masted schooner

Sank: November 23, 1912

Captain Schuenemann of the Rouse Simmons set sail from Thompson Harbour, Michigan, headed to Chicago carrying 5,500 Christmas trees. Known as "Captain Santa", Captain Schuenemann had delivered Christmas trees for the past 24 years.

But that day, the Rouse Simmons was caught in a violent gale. When last sighted, the ship was riding low in the water with torn sails and flying its flag at half-mast to signal distress.

The ship disappeared with all 16 passengers. The wreck was discovered in 1971.

The Rouse Simmons near shore, its three-masts in full sail and several sailors on deck.

The Rouse Simmons with full sails set.
Date:Unknown, pre-1912. Source:Photographer unknown.

The hull of the sunken Rouse Simmons seen from the bow looking down the length of the deck. Two masts are resting in the sand to the right of the hull and a small Christmas tree has been placed recently on the foredeck.

A christmas tree on the Rouse Simmons wreck.
Date:2006. Source:Wisconsin Historical Society.

Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Lake Huron

Lake Huron Wrecks

Daniel J. Morrell

Type: Freighter

Sank: November 29, 1966

The freighter Daniel J. Morrell sailed for 60 years on the Great Lakes before she sank.

On her last trip of the shipping season, the Daniel J. Morrell met a violent November storm, with waves rising right over the ship.

Many of the crew jumped into the frigid water to save themselves. As the bow sank, the stern continued steaming before sinking five miles away.

Four crew members managed to enter a life raft, but only one survived.

The Daniel J. Morrell steaming underway, dark smoke billowing from its rear funnel.

Last know photo of the Daniel J. Morrell.
Date:Nov. 25, 1966. Source:Photographer Emory Massman.
Great Lakes Historical Society, National Museum of the Great Lakes.

Divers with lights swimming over the bow of the wreck of the Morrell.

The bow section of the Daniel J. Morrell on the lake bottom.
Date:2018. Source:Photographer Becky Kagan Schott / Liquid Productions.

Charles S. Price

Type: Bulk freighter

Capsized: November 9, 1913

Sank: November 17, 1913

The Charles S. Price was one of eight ships lost on Lake Huron during the Great Storm of 1913, which ravaged the Great Lakes over three days.

Over those three days, 12 ships sank, 30 more were stranded and at least 248 lives were lost.

The Charles S. Price was found capsized with her bow floating out of the water. Called the Mystery Ship because it could not be identified at first, it sank a week later. All 28 crew members were lost.

The Charles S. Price, a dark hull and bright white cabin, steams through calm water near shore, smoke billowing from its funnel.

The Charles S. Price steams across calm water.
Date:Before 1913. Source:Leonard J Barr II Collection, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library. Alpena, MI.

A photo of the Charles S. Price capsized with just the bow floating above the water. Handwriting in the corner of the photo reads: The Mystery Ship. The Charles S. Price. November 9th, 1913. Lake Huron.

The Charles S. Price floating bow upward. The "Mystery Ship" inscription indicates the ship could not be identified initially.
Date:Nov. 1913. Source:Institute for Great Lakes Research at Bowling Green State University.

Waubuno

Type: Sidewheel paddle steamer

Sank: November 22, 1879

The Waubuno was making a final November passage from Collingwood to Parry Sound with 24 aboard when it was struck by a gale. When it failed to reach its destination, a tug was sent out to search, but found only floating debris from the ship.

In the spring of 1880, the upturned hull was discovered beside Moberly Island. As there was no obvious damage to the hull, it is assumed the ship foundered in the storm. No bodies were ever found.

A portion of the Waubuno's wood hull seen just below the surface of calm water.

The remains of the Waubuno just below the surface of the water.
Date:2011. Source:Photographer Paul Dahlke.

The white-hulled Waubuno moored along a pier, its paddle wheel and name prominent along its broadside.

The Waubuno berthed at a dock.
Date:Before 1879. Source:From the Historical Collections of the Great Lakes Bowling Green State University.

SS Wexford

Type: Freighter

Sank: November 9, 1913

The SS Wexford was travelling to Goderich loaded with wheat when it was caught in the Great Storm of 1913. That storm was later named the White Hurricane due to the blizzard conditions over a four-day period!

People in Goderich reported hearing the sound of the ship's whistle as it passed offshore, but they couldn't see it.

The SS Wexford disappeared, but after the storm, several crew were found washed on the beach wearing Wexford lifejackets. The entire crew perished.

Black and white period photo of the Wexford moored to a pier with other freighters packed tightly in a harbour for the winter. Loose pack-ice surrounds the ship. Part of a train with four freight cars is on the pier.

The SS Wexford moored in the foreground.
Date:Unknown. Source:Unknown.

Underwater colour photo of the Wexford interior storage hold. Sunlight from the surface slightly illuminates the interior of the hold through the hatches above.

Interior hold of the Wexford shipwreck.
Date:2015. Source:Photographer, Rick Rogers.

Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Lake Erie

Lake Erie Wrecks

Argo

Type: Tanker Barge

Sank: October 20, 1937

The barge Argo was unseaworthy to travel on the Great Lakes when it ran into a storm while under tow by the tug Syosset and sank. The fully loaded barge was overwhelmed by waves and rolled on its side around midnight. The tug captain immediately released the tow line and circled back to rescue two bargemen clinging on top of the stern section, then abandoned the barge and headed for a safe harbour. When found 78 years later, the lost barge was still leaking its cargo of chemicals and crude oil.

A side-scan sonar image taken of the Argo wreck sitting upright at the bottom of Lake Erie. The shadow outline of the hull structure and some deck structures are clearly visible.

Side-scan sonar image of the Argo.
Date:2015. Source:Side-scan image recorded by Tom Kowalczk.

Admiral

Type: Tugboat

Sank: December 2, 1942

The tanker barge Clavenco was under tow by the tugboat Admiral during a fierce snowstorm when the crew of the Clavenco discovered the tow line was slack and the Admiral with its 14 crew were nowhere in sight. Assuming the Admiral had foundered in the steep waves and left them adrift, the Clavenco radioed for assistance, but poor visibility prevented rescue vessels from finding the barge and it too disappeared. All 18 crew perished.

The wreck of the Admiral was found in 1981 with the remains of three crew members still inside.

Black and white period photo of the Admiral moving through the water. Smoke is billowing from its stack and seven crew members can be seen on deck.

The Admiral underway.
Date:1942. Source:Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library / Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.

Black and white period photo of the W.H. Meyer before it was renamed the Admiral. The ship is stationary with two members of its crew on the deck.

The W.H. Meyer underway, before it was renamed the Admiral 89 days before it sank.
Date:Unknown. Source:Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library / Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.

James B. Colgate

Type: Whaleback steamer

Sank: October 20, 1916

The James B. Colgate was a "whaleback" steamer, so-called because the hull curves inward above the waterline to help shed waves like a whale's back. However, the Colgate succumbed to hurricane-like winds and waves when too much water entered the cargo hold for the pumps to keep up and the ship sank bow-down. The captain and two other crew found a life raft, but only the captain survived of the 27 crew. Three other ships foundered in the storm on what became known as Black Friday.

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The James B. Colgate underway.
Date:Unknown. Source:Unknown.

Black and white photo of the James B. Colgate laying stationary beside a pier with numerous small cranes overhead for unloading cargo.

The James B. Colgate moored to a pier.
Date:Circa 1900. Source:Photographer unknown.

Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario Wrecks

HMS Ontario

Type: Two-Masted Snow (short third mast with gaff sail)

Sank: October 31, 1780

The HMS Ontario was a British warship during the Revolutionary War. Only five months after its launch, it was struck by a severe galeon Lake Ontario and sank.

As many as 120 sailors, soldiers, women, children, and war prisonerswere lost.

After decades of searching, the wreck was found in 2005 HMS Ontario is the oldest, fully intact British warship ever found in the Great Lakes, and is considered a British war grave.

Watercolour painting of the HMS Ontario on the water during a storm. The ship is shown being tossed around by the wind and waves and its sails are in tatters against a dark sky.

Watercolour painting of HMS Ontario in gale conditions.
Date:2008. Source:Painting by Roland Stevens.

Watercolour painting of the HMS Ontario resting upright on the lake bottom with both masts standing upright.

Waterlolour painting of HMS Ontario shipwreck.
Date:2008. Source:Painting by Roland Stevens, produced from underwater image taken in 2005..

Three Brothers

Type: Dagger-board schooner

Sank: November 12, 1833

The 13.7 meters (45 ft) schooner Three Brothers was sailing to Oswego with a cargo of produce when it was struck by a gale and foundered. All four crew were lost. Built in 1827, the schooner was discovered in 2014 using side-scan sonar.

According to co-discoverer Jim Kennard, the Three Brothers the first working dagger-board [drop keel] schooner ever found, and the oldest confirmed commercial schooner discovered in the Great Lakes.

Watercolourpainting of the Three Brothers wreck laying at the bottom of the lake in an upright position. A centre hold appears open and an anchor is on the bow. The bow sprit (extended pole) is still intact.

The Three Brothers wreck site.
Date:2014. Source:Watercolour painting by Roland Stevens..

Black and white underwater image of the Three Brothers looking down from amidships to the bow. The deck hatches are open and an anchor rests on the foredeck. The ship is intact.

The Three Brothers from amidships to bow section.
Date:2014. Source:Photographer, Roger Pawlowski.

Roberval

Type: Steamship

Sank: September 25, 1916

The Roberval was carrying a tall load of lumber on its deck when 2.4 meters (8 feets) waves began to rock the ship. Around sunset, a huge wave rolled the ship onto its side and spilled much of the lumber overboard. The first wave was followed by a second. As water flooded the engine room, the ship listed to one side, and crew fell into the water. Some clung to floating lumber and others climbed into a lifeboat as the ship sank. Seven crew were rescued and two drowned.

Black and white period photo of the Roberval steaming underway with a black plume of smoke billowing from the funnel.

The Roberval underway.
Date:Circa 1910. Source:Unknown.

Black and white underwater photo of the mid-ship remains of the Roberval shipwreck.

The Roberval mid-ship remains.
Date:2013. Source:Photographer, Roger Pawlowski.

Kingston Shipwrecks

Kingston West

Kingston West Wrecks

Horace Taber

Type: Three-masted schooner

Sank: November 27, 1922

The Horace Taber was builtin 1867 and enlarged to a three-masted schooner in 1883.After waiting in Oswego for favourable weather, the ship left for Kingston with a shipment of 400 tons of coal when it was caught in a severe snowstorm at night and was pushed ashore. Though the ship was completely destroyed, the cargo was salvaged. All the crew survived.

Black and white period photo of the wood hulled Horace Taber docked at pier in an industrial dockyard setting. The stern of another white painted wood ship overlaps the Taber.

The Horace Taber alongside a pier.
Date:Circa 1900. Source:Unknown.

Black and white period photo of the three-masted Horace Taber alongside a pier with sails lowered.

The Horace Taber alongside pier.
Date:Circa 1900. Source:Courtesy of Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library..

Effie Mae

Type: Scuba charter boat

Sank: October 17, 1993

From about 1980 to 1992, the Effie Mae was used as a live-aboard charter boat for scuba diving around Kingston. In the early 1990s, the ship's owners moved out of Ontario and donated the vessel to Preserve Our Wrecks Kingston. The ship was scuttled near the schooner-barge Aloha in approximately 17 meters (55 feets) of water, and remains a popular dive site.

Underwater colour photo of the Effie Mae wreck shows the bow of the boat where the ship's name is written. A diver is posing beside the name of the boat.

The Effie Mae wreck.
Date:1984. Source:Photographer, Cris Kohl.
Copyright Seawolf Communications, Inc..

Aloha

Type: Schooner barge

Sank: October 28, 1917

The Aloha barge was being towed to Kingston by the tugboat Chamberlain when it was caught in a severe storm, sprung a leak and foundered. The barge was loaded with 925 tons of coal. The tug circled back to save the 70-year old captain and three crew, but the captain missed the ropes thrown to him twice and drowned. Another crew member clung to the mast rigging that remained above water and had to be rescued later by a lighthouse tender.

Black and white period photo of the Aloha secured at a pier. There are no sails on its two masts. Four crew members are posing for the photographer on the foredeck.

The Aloha resting at a dock.
Date:Circa 1900. Source:C. Patrick Labadie Collection, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Alpena, MI..

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The Aloha shipwreck.
Date:Circa 1984. Source:Photographer, Cris Kohl.
Copyright Seawolf Communications, Inc..

Comet

Type: Sidewheel paddle steamer

Sank: May 14, 1861

The steamer Comet was leaving Kingston harbour when the crew noticed a light on the schooner Exchange approaching. The Comet altered course slightly to avoid the Exchange, but not enough to avoid a collision. The Exchange hastened toward Kingston for its own safety as the Comet began to leak badly and turned toward shore. Two crew members bailing a lifeboat lost their balance and were thrown overboard and drowned. The rest of the crew and five passengers made it to shore in another lifeboat.

Pen and ink drawing of the Comet steaming underway. Several people are on the deck mid deck and smoke is billowing from the stack.

The Comet underway.
Date:Unknown. Source:Artist, C.S.J. Snider.
Great Lakes Museum Collection.

Underwater colour photo of the Comet wreck showing the paddle wheel from the side. Zebra mussels are encrusted on the surface.

The Comet's paddlewheel.
Date:2006. Source:Photographer, Warren Lo.

George T. Davie

Type: Barge

Sank: April 18, 1945

The barge George T. Davie was nearing Kingston under tow by the tugboat Salvage Prince when its 47-year career came to an end. The tug captain reported the barge loaded with 1,148 tons of coal was handling the heavy following seas well until it began to steer badly, and soon after, the barge steered badly to starboard, capsized and sank. The four crew members aboard the Davie were thrown into the icy water, but were picked up by the tug within two minutes.

Black and white period photo of the George T. Davie being salvaged after a previous sinking in 1911. Two other salvage boats are visible in the background and a crew of salvage crew are standing on a pier in the background. Several chains are tethered to the Davie.

The George T. Davie being salvaged after a previous sinking.
Date:Circa 1912. Source:Great Lakes Museum Collection.

Underwater colour photo of the bow of the George T. Davie wreck. Surface of the wreck is covered in zebra mussels but the bow anchor is visible. A diver is hovered above the bow with lights and camera.

The bow of the George T. Davie wreck.
Date:2006. Source:Photographer, Warren Lo.

Kingston Shipwrecks

Kingston North

Kingston North Wrecks

St. Lawrence

Type: 112-Gun British ship of the line

Sank: Unknown; abandoned 19th century

HMS St. Lawrence was the largest, most heavily armed wooden warship to ever sail on the Great Lakes. The ship was built in 1814 for the War of 1812. However, the war soon ended and the ship never saw battle. After lying decommissioned and idle for years, the hulk of the St. Lawrence was finally sold to a local brewery in Kingston to serve as a wood supply dock for passing steamers needing wood for their boilers. The mighty ship slowly decayed into the shallow water, where it remains today.

Painting of the HMS St. Lawrence underway with full sails on Lake Ontario. Several other smaller ships are sailing in the background.

HMS St. Lawrence under sail.
Date:2000.. Source:Artist, Peter Rindlisbacher.
St. Lawrence and Squadron, 1814..

Prince Regent

Type: Fourth-rate frigate

Sank: 1832

HMS Prince Regent was a British warship that patrolled Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. It was the largest warship on the lake until the launch of the HMS St. Lawrence, and took part in the victorious attack on Fort Oswego. There was little use for the Prince Regent after the war, andit was put up for auctionin 1832.There were no buyers, so the ship was scuttled in Deadman Bay the same year, where it is a National Historic Site of Canada along with HMS St. Lawrence.

Colour painting of the HMS Prince Regent sailing on Lake Ontario. Several other smaller ships are visible in the background.

HMS Prince Regent underway.
Date:Unknown. Source:Artist, George A. Cuthbertson.
Great Lakes Museum Collection..

Underwater colour photo of the hull structural timber remains of the HMS Prince Regent wreck. The wood timbers are surrounded by green lake grass and the surface of the wood surface exhibits marine growth and algae deposits.

HMS Prince Regent wreck structure.
Date:2012. Source:Photographer, CrisKhol.
Copyright Seawolf Communications, Inc..

Wolfe Islander II

Type: Ferry

Sank: September 21, 1985

The Wolfe Islander II was originally a coastal freighter named the Ottawa Maybrook built in the final days of World War II. Originally destined for China, the deal fell throughand it was then converted into a 16-car ferry to carry cars between Kingston and Wolfe Island.After 30 years of service, a new ferry replaced the Wolfe Islander II and it was scuttled to create a recreational dive site.Since then, it has become one of the most-visited shipwrecks in Lake Ontario.

Colourphoto of the Wolfe Islander II beginning to sink. The ship is still slightly above water but listing to the port side and most of the deck is awash. Several observation boats are visible around the ship.

The Wolfe Islander II sinking.
Date:1985. Source:Photographer, Mike Hill.

Underwater colour photo of the bow of the Wolfe Islander II. The hull is encrusted with zebra mussels and a diver is visible on the side.

Wolfe Islander II wreck.
Date:2006. Source:Photographer, Warren Lo.

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