Chris Izworski

Great Lakes Shipwrecks — Comprehensive Upper Great Lakes Database

Compiled by Chris Izworski · Bay City, Michigan · Updated March 2026

The Great Lakes hold an estimated 6,000–8,000 shipwrecks — more than any comparable freshwater system in the world. The cold, fresh water preserves hulls far better than saltwater, making many wrecks fully intact centuries after sinking. This database covers 63 significant wrecks across all five lakes with year lost, vessel type, cause, location, depth, and dive access status.

6,000–8,000Estimated Total Wrecks
350+Lake Superior Wrecks
248Deaths — Great Storm of 1913
848Deaths — Eastland Disaster (1915)
1679Oldest Known (Griffin)
Vessel ↕Lake ↕Year ↕TypeCauseLocationDepthDeaths ↕Dive Access
Edmund FitzgeraldSuperior1975Bulk freighterStorm17 mi NW of Whitefish Point, MI530 ft29Dive Site
SS KamloopsSuperior1927Package freighterStormIsle Royale, MI270 ft22Dive Site
EmperorSuperior1947Bulk freighterGrounding/fogIsle Royale, MI175 ft12Dive Site
Chester A. CongdonSuperior1918Bulk freighterFog/groundingIsle Royale, MI100 ft0Dive Site
AlgomaSuperior1885Passenger steamerStormIsle Royale, MI20–100 ft45Dive Site
AmericaSuperior1928Passenger steamerGroundingIsle Royale, MI2–80 ft0Dive Site
George M. CoxSuperior1933Passenger steamerFog/groundingIsle Royale, MI10–100 ft0Dive Site
Henry ChisholmSuperior1898Bulk freighterStorm/groundingIsle Royale, MI70–130 ft0Dive Site
ViennaSuperior1892SteamerCollisionWhitefish Point, MI30 ft0Dive Site
CometSuperior1875SchoonerStormWhitefish Point, MI20 ft0Dive Site
John B. CowleSuperior1909Bulk freighterCollisionWhitefish Point, MI270 ft14Tech Dive
Smith MooreSuperior1889Bulk freighterStormAlger County, MI100 ft0Dive Site
BermudaSuperior1870SchoonerStormAlger County, MI50 ft0Dive Site
KiowaSuperior1929SteamerStormAlger County, MI25 ft0Dive Site
MataafaSuperior1905Bulk freighterStormDuluth Harbor, MNShallow9Dive Site
LafayetteSuperior1905Bulk freighterStormTwo Harbors, MNShallow0Dive Site
MadeiraSuperior1905BargeStormGold Rock Point, MN30–120 ft1Dive Site
EdenbornSuperior1905Bulk freighterStormSplit Rock, MN50–90 ft0Dive Site
Henry B. SmithSuperior1913Bulk freighterStormOff Marquette, MIUnknown25No Access
LeafieldSuperior1913SteamerStormOff Angus Island, ONUnknown18No Access
L.C. WaldoSuperior1913Bulk freighterStormGull Rock, MIShallow0Dive Site
Western ReserveSuperior1892Bulk freighterStructural failureOff Deer Park, MIUnknown26No Access
BannockburnSuperior1902Bulk freighterUnknown — vanishedMid-Lake SuperiorUnknown22No Access
CyprusSuperior1907Bulk freighterStormOff Deer Park, MIUnknown22No Access
Benjamin NobleSuperior1914Package freighterOverloading/stormOff Knife Island, MNUnknown20No Access
SS GunildaSuperior1911Private yachtGroundingMcGarvey Shoal, ON270 ft0Dive Site
OnokoSuperior1915Bulk freighterFloodingOff Knife River, MN220 ft0Dive Site
MonarchSuperior1906Passenger steamerStorm/groundingThunder Cape, ON50 ft0Dive Site
SevonaSuperior1905Bulk freighterStormSand Island, WIShallow7Dive Site
W.C. KimballSuperior1891SchoonerStormKeweenaw, MI90 ft0Dive Site
SS TiogaSuperior1895SteamerCollision/fireKeweenaw, MI170 ft0Dive Site
IoscoSuperior1905SteamerStormOff Deer Park, MIUnknown17No Access
John OwenSuperior1905SteamerStormOff Grand Marais, MIUnknown8No Access
PretoriaSuperior1905BargeStormOff Sand Island, WIUnknown7No Access
Olive JeanetteSuperior1905Schooner-bargeStormOff Deer Park, MIUnknown7No Access
Lady ElginMichigan1860Side-wheel steamerCollisionOff Winnetka, ILUnknown300No Access
PhoenixMichigan1847SteamerBoiler fireOff Sheboygan, WIUnknown190No Access
EastlandMichigan1915Excursion steamerCapsized at dockChicago River, ILDockside848No Access
Carl D. BradleyMichigan1958Self-unloaderStormGreen Bay approach, MI360 ft33Dive Site
Daniel J. MorrellMichigan1966Bulk freighterStormNorthern Lake Huron areaUnknown28No Access
Francisco MorazanMichigan1960FreighterGroundingSouth Manitou Island, MI3–16 ft0Dive Site
Three BrothersMichigan1911SchoonerStormSouth Manitou Island, MIShallow0Dive Site
Walter L. FrostMichigan1903SchoonerStormSouth Manitou Island, MI20 ft0Dive Site
William B. DavockMichigan1940Bulk freighterStormOff Pentwater, MI180 ft24No Access
Anna C. MinchMichigan1940Bulk freighterStormOff Pentwater, MI180 ft24No Access
SS NovadocMichigan1936Bulk freighterStormOff Pentwater, MIShallow2Dive Site
City of RacineMichigan1905Excursion steamerStormOff Racine, WIUnknown6No Access
GriffinHuron1679BrigantineStorm/unknownLake Huron (Lake Michigan)Unknown6Historical
ReginaHuron1913Package freighterStormOff Port Huron, MI80 ft20Dive Site
John A. McGeanHuron1913Bulk freighterStormOff Lexington, MIUnknown23No Access
Charles S. PriceHuron1913Bulk freighterStormOff Port Huron, MI60 ft28Dive Site
ArgusHuron1913Bulk freighterStormOff Lexington, MIUnknown25No Access
WexfordHuron1913Bulk freighterStormOff Goderich, ONUnknown20No Access
Isaac M. ScottHuron1913Bulk freighterStormOff Rogers City, MIUnknown28No Access
James CarruthersHuron1913Bulk freighterStorm (maiden voyage)Off Goderich, ONUnknown22No Access
HydrusHuron1913Bulk freighterStormOff Lexington, MIUnknown25No Access
PewabicHuron1865Sidewheel steamerCollisionOff Alpena, MI90–200 ft125Dive Site
Anthony WayneErie1850SteamerBoiler explosionOff Vermilion, OHUnknown50No Access
AtlanticErie1852Sidewheel steamerCollisionOff Port Dover, ON160 ft150Dive Site
Marquette & Bessemer No. 2Erie1909Car ferryStormVicinity of Conneaut, OHUnknown33No Access
MeridaErie1893FreighterStructural failure/stormOff Port Stanley, ON50 ft0Dive Site
SpeedyOntario1804SchoonerStormOff Presqu'ile Point, ONUnknown21Historical
Hamilton & ScourgeOntario1813WarshipsSquall — War of 1812Off Hamilton, ON300 ft0Dive Site
Shipwrecks designated as maritime graves (Edmund Fitzgerald, Hamilton & Scourge) prohibit diving by law. All Michigan underwater preserves require wreck artifacts to remain in place. Depth data is approximate. "Unknown" depth indicates the wreck location has not been confirmed or is in deep water beyond recreational diving range. Sources: NOAA, GLSHF, Michigan DNR, USGS.
Sources: NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary · Michigan DNR Underwater Preserves · Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society · Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum · Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (BGSU) · Lake Carriers' Association

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this topic answered from the data.

How many shipwrecks are in the Great Lakes?
Estimates vary significantly, but historians and maritime archaeologists believe the Great Lakes contain between 6,000 and 8,000 shipwrecks — more than any other comparable body of freshwater in the world. Lake Superior alone is believed to hold approximately 350+ wrecks. The cold, fresh water preserves wooden and steel hulls remarkably well compared to saltwater environments.
What is the most famous Great Lakes shipwreck?
The Edmund Fitzgerald, a 729-foot ore carrier that sank in a Lake Superior storm on November 10, 1975, with all 29 crew members lost, is the most famous Great Lakes shipwreck. Gordon Lightfoot's 1976 ballad 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' cemented its legend. The wreck lies in two pieces at 530 feet depth and is designated a maritime burial ground — diving is prohibited.
Can you dive Great Lakes shipwrecks?
Many Great Lakes shipwrecks are popular scuba diving destinations. Michigan has one of the largest collections of protected underwater preserves in the world, with nine underwater preserves covering over 2,700 square miles. Notable dive sites include the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (Alpena, Michigan), the Alger Underwater Preserve (Munising, Michigan), and the Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve.
What caused the Edmund Fitzgerald to sink?
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank November 10, 1975 during a severe Lake Superior storm with waves estimated at 25 feet. The official cause was never definitively determined. The U.S. Coast Guard concluded flooding from hatch cover failures. The Lake Carriers' Association attributed it to shoaling damage. Canadian investigators suggested structural failure. The sudden disappearance with no distress call remains one of the great maritime mysteries.
What was the Great Storm of 1913?
The Great Lakes Storm of 1913 (also called the White Hurricane) was the deadliest and most destructive natural disaster ever to strike the Great Lakes. Over November 7–12, 1913, sustained hurricane-force winds and mountainous waves sank 12 ships and stranded 31 others. 248 sailors died, mostly in Lake Huron where 8 ships sank simultaneously. Most victims were never recovered.
Which Great Lakes has the most shipwrecks?
Lake Erie is believed to have the highest concentration of shipwrecks (estimated 2,000+ due to its shallower depth and high historical traffic), but Lake Superior is home to the most famous and best-preserved wrecks due to its cold water and depth. Lake Huron holds several important storm wrecks from 1913. Lake Michigan has notable car ferry and ore boat wrecks off the Wisconsin and Michigan shorelines.
What is the Griffin and was it ever found?
The Griffin (or Le Griffon) was built by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier de La Salle in 1679 — the first sailing vessel on the Upper Great Lakes. On her maiden voyage she vanished in a storm on Lake Huron or Lake Michigan with a crew of six. The wreck has never been definitively identified despite numerous claimed discoveries. It remains the oldest lost ship in Great Lakes history.

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Looking to watch these ships in real time? → Great Lakes Freighter Tracking & Vessel Watching Guide