List of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes


The Great Lakes, a collection of five freshwater lakes located in North America, have been sailed upon since at least the 17th century, and thousands of ships have been sunk while traversing them. Many of these ships were never found, so the exact number of shipwrecks in the Lakes is unknown; the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum approximates 6,000 ships and 30,000 lives lost, while historian and mariner Mark Thompson has estimated that the total number of wrecks is likely more than 25,000. In the period between 1816, when the Invincible was lost, to the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975, the Whitefish Point area alone has claimed at least 240 ships.

Lake Superior

ShipSunk dateNotesCoordinatesImage
SS Algoma7 November 1885Ran aground off the shore of Mott Island.-
Amboy1905Ran aground during the Mataafa Storm of 1905.-
SS America7 June 1928A passenger and delivery ship that ran aground on a reef off the shore of Isle Royale.-
Antelope7 October 1897Schooner-barge sank near Apostle Islands. Wreck discovered in 2016 near Michigan Island-
SS Arlington1 May 1940A steamship that broke apart in heavy seas.-
SS Bannockburn21 November 1902A steel hulled freighter that went missing on Lake Superior.-
SS Benjamin Noble28 April 1914Lost off Duluth; found 2004.-
Big Bay sloopUnidentified sloop believed to date from 1880-1920.-
SS Chester A. Congdon6 November 1918A bulk steel freighter that ran aground in fog off Isle Royale.-
City of Ashland8 August 1887A steam powered tugboat, which caught fire near the shore of its namesake city, Ashland, Wisconsin.-
City of Bangor30 November 1926A steamer that was stranded in a storm with a cargo of 248 Chryslers.-
Comet26 August 1875Cargo and passenger steamship that suffered a series of maritime accidents before her final collision with the Manitoba in Whitefish Bay.-
SS Cumberland25 July 1887A paddlewheeler that struck a reef near Rock of Ages Light.-
SS Cyprus11 October 1907A lake freighter that capsized near Deer Park.-
SS D.M. Clemson1 December 1908Went missing on Lake Superior on 1 December 1908.-
SS Edmund Fitzgerald10 November 1975Lost in a storm on Lake Superior, the Fitzgerald is one of the largest ships to have sunk in the Great Lakes. The exact cause of the disaster has never been made clear, and has been the subject of much discussion.-
SS Emperor4 June 1947A freighter that ran aground off Isle Royale.-
USS Essex13 October 1931A decommissioned U.S. Navy steam sloop that was scrapped and burned to the waterline. Her hull is the only surviving remnant of a vessel built by Donald McKay.-
SS George Spencer28 November 1905A wooden freighter that ran aground in the Mataafa Storm of 1905.-
SS Glenlyon1 November 1924A freighter that ran aground off Menagerie Island.-
Gunilda11 August 1911A yacht that ran up on McGarvey's Shoals, Lake Superior.-
SS George M. CoxMay 1933A ship that ran aground on a calm day.-
SS Harriet B.3 May 1922Lost off Two Harbors after being rammed in fog.-
SS Henry B. Smith10 November 1913Lost in Lake Superior during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.-
SS Henry Chisholm20 October 1898A wooden freighter that sank off the shore of Isle Royale.-
SS Henry Steinbrenner11 May 1953Great Lakes freighter lost in Lake Superior.-
Hesper3 May 1905A Wooden bulk-freighter steamship that sank in a snowstorm at Silver Bay.-
SS Hudson16 September 1901An iron hulled steamer that was lost with all hands off Eagle Harbor; Wreck discovered 2019 off Eagle River-
SS Iosco2 September 1905A wooden steamer that sank near the Huron Islands-
Ira H. Owen28 November 1905Early steel steamer lost off Outer Island with all hands-
Invincible1905A wooden ship employed in the fur trade by the Northwest Company. It sank in a storm. Generally considered to be the first recorded ship to sink in the Great Lakes.-
J. S. Seaverns10 May 1884Sank off Michipicoten, no lives lost. Wreck discovered in 2016.-
SS John B. Cowle 12 July 1909Sank in Whitefish Bay with the loss of 14 lives after colliding with the Isaac M. Scott.-
John M. Osborn27 July 1884Wooden steam barge rammed by 'terror of the lakes' Alberta.-
SS Kamloops7 December 1927A Canadian canaller that sank off Isle Royale.-
SS Lafayette28 November 1905A steel hulled bulk freighter that broke in half near Two Harbors, Minnesota.-
18 April 1922Canadian lighthouse tender that sank in Whitefish Bay-
LucerneNovember 1886A commercial schooner that sank off the coast of Long Island.-
Madeira28 November 1905A casualty of the Mataafa Storm in 1905.-
Marquette1903A bulk freighter that sank off Michigan Island.-
May Flower2 June 1891Two-masted scow schooner that capsized off the Lester River.-
Miztec13 May 1921A schooner barge that survived the 1919 storm that took her partner, the SS Myron. The Miztec's good fortune ended when she sank in 1921 with the loss of all hands. She came to rest next to the Myron.-
SS M.M. Drake2 October 1901Sank off Vermilion Point on Lake Superior.-
SS Monarch6 December 1906A passenger and delivery freighter lost in a storm off Isle Royale.-
Moonlight1September 1903A schooner that sank off the coast of Michigan Island.-
SS Myron23 November 1919Lumber hooker lost in a storm on Lake Superior.-
Niagara4 June 1904Large wooden rafting tug ran aground at Knife Island-
Noquebay6 October 1905A wooden schooner that caught fire and sank off Stockton Island.-
SS Onoko14 September 1915Sprang a leak and sank near Knife River-
Ottawa13 November 1909A tugboat that caught fire after rescuing a stranded steamboat.-
Pretoria1905A schooner-barge that sank off Outer Island in 1905.-
USS Puritan27 May 1933A commercial steamship that struck a reef near Rock of Ages Light.-
R.G. Stewart4 June 1899A commercial Packet steamer that caught fire and sank off the coast of Michigan Island.-
SS Robert Wallace17 November 1902A wooden freighter that sank after her stern pipe burst.-
SS Sagamore29 July 1901A whaleback barge, sank in a collision with Northern Queen near Iroquois Point in Whitefish Bay.-
SS Samuel Mather21 November 1891Sank in a collision with the Brazil off Iroquois Point in Whitefish Bay with no loss of life.-
Samuel P. Ely30 October 1896A schooner lost off Two Harbors-
SS Scotiadoc20 June 1953Rammed by the freighter Burlington in heavy fog off Trowbridge Island, near the Sleeping Giant.-
Sevona2 September 1905A steamboat that ran aground off the coast of Sand Island.-
SS Superior City20 August 1920Collided with Willis L. King in Whitefish Bay.-
T.H. Camp16 November 1900A wooden tugboat that sank between Madeline and Basswood Islands.
SS Theano17 November 1906A steel ocean steamer that sank in deep water after striking a reef.-
Thomas friant6 January 1924Fish tug that sank after being holed by ice.
SS Thomas Wilson7 June 1902Struck by the wooden steamer George Hadley and sunk less than a mile out of the Duluth Ship Canal.
SS Vienna17 September 1892Rammed by Nipigon in Whitefish Bay.
SS William C. Moreland18 October 1910A long steel hulled bulk freighter that ran aground on Sawtooth Reef.
SS Western Reserve30 August 1892Broke in two in a summer storm on Lake Superior.

Lake Huron

ShipSunk dateNotesCoordinatesImage
ArabiaOctober 1884Barque that foundered of Echo Island near Tobermory, Ontario in 120 feet of water.
SS Argus9 November 1913Wreckage found near Bayfield Ontario Canada
CC Martin1911Tug lost with barge Albatross during storm off French River, ten lives lost.
SS Cedarville7 May 1965A bulk carrier that collided with SS Topdalsfjord in the Straits of Mackinac.
15 November 1913Capsized in the Great Lakes Storm of 1913. Sighted floating upside-down 10 November 1913 identified as Charles S. Price before it sank on 15 November 1913. Wreck was not found until the 60s when it was found by Resbert R. Martin.
SS Choctaw12 February 1915Sank in a collision with the SS Wahcondah.
City of Grand Rapids29 October 1907The City of Grand Rapids was a double decker passenger streamer that caught fire while docked in Little Tub Harbour. For the security of the harbour, the Grand Rapids was towed out into Georgian Bay and released to burn. From there she drifted to the head of Big Tub Harbour where she burnt to the waterline and sank.
Cornelia B. Windiate27 November 1875Iced up and slowly sank in a storm after passing through the Straits of Mackinac.
SS Daniel J. Morrell29 November 1966Broke in two in a storm on Lake Huron, with the aft section coming to rest five miles from the bow.
Dorcas Pendell6 July 1914Shallow water shipwreck located in the harbor of Harbor Beach, Michigan. The was a schooner built in 1884 and burned in place on 6 July 1914 after running aground.
SS D.R. Hanna16 May 1919A long steel freighter that sank in a collision with the Quincy A. Shaw.
Emma L. Nielson26 June 1911Collision in fog off Pointe Aux Barques.
Erie Belle21 November 1883A steamship that exploded while attempting to rescue the stranded schooner J. N. Carter.
Exchange
Forest City5 June 1904Ran aground in foggy weather near south east end of Bear's Rump Island in Georgian Bay near Tobermory. Smashed stem is in 60 feet and stern is at 150 feet depth.
Hunter SavidgeCapsized off Point Aux Barques.
SS Hydrus11 November 1913Lost on Lake Huron during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913. Its wreck was discovered in July 2015.
SS Isaac M. Scott9 November 1913A lake freighter that sank in the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.
James C. KingNovember 1901While under tow by W.L.Wetmore, which was wrecked by a storm, the King was wrecked too at the north west end of Bonnet Island near Tobermory, Ontario in about 90 feet of water.
SS James Carruthers9 November 1913Lost on Lake Huron during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.
James Davidson4 October 1883Wooden bulk freighter wrecked in shallow water off the coast of Thunder Bay Island while towing a consort-barge to Duluth. While still stranded, its engine and boiler were salvaged, and the rest of it has since broken up and separated about 35 feet underwater.
1913Lost in storm off Harbor Beach in Lake Huron in the Great Storm of 1913. Wreck discovered in 1985.
SS KaliyugaOctober 1905A wooden steamship lost in a storm.
Lottie Wolf16 October 1891This schooner broke up in gale force seas in shallow water about 200 feet of the Hope Island Lighthouse in about 30 feet of water near Midland, Ontario.
Mapledawn30 November 1924This steel freighter ran aground in a snow storm on the west side of Christian Island near Midland, Ontario. She is in 35 feet of water with part of the stem sticking out of the water.
Marine CityWrecked north of Sturgeon Point Light.
Metamora30 September 1907A wooden tug that sank near Pointe au Baril, Georgian Bay.
MichiganNovember 1943While removing grain from the stranded Riverton at the north west end of Hope Island near Midland, Ontario, high winds blew her into shallow waters grounding her in 20 feet of water.
Monohansett23 November 1907The wooden steam barge sank after catching fire near Thunder Bay Island in Lake Huron. As the wreck took place near the island's Life Saving Station, no lives were lost.
SS Monrovia26 May 1959A cargo ship that collided with SS Royalston north of Thunder Bay Island.
SS Ohio 26 September 1894A wooden freighter that sank in a collision with the schooner Ironton.
Philo ScovilleOctober 1889Wrecked during a storm and is in 100 feet at north east end of Bonnet Island near Tobermory, Ontario.
SS Regina10 November 1913Lost on Lake Huron during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.
SweepstakesSeptember 1885A schooner that was damaged off Cove Island in August, then sank a month later in Big Tub Harbour, near Tobermory.
True North II16 June 2000A glass-bottomed tour boat that sank in Georgian Bay, killing two students.
Typo14 October 1899The wooden three-masted schooner was run down by the steamer W.P. Ketcham. The ship sank immediately and the four crew on board drowned.
PS Waubuno22 November 1879A side-wheel paddle steamer lost in a storm in Georgian Bay.
W.L. WetmoreNovember 1901Wrecked in a storm at the west end of Bonnet Island in about 30 feet of water, near Tobermory, Ontario.
SS Wexford9 November 1913Lost on Lake Huron during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.
Minnedosa20 October 1905Sank while in tow, near Harbor Beach, Michigan; 9 crew and passengers lost.

Lake Michigan

Lake Erie

Lake Ontario

Largest wrecks