Identification & Site Information

  • Name: City of Madison
  • Official number: 4350
  • Year built: 1857, Buffalo, New York (Van Slyke & Notter)
  • Type: Wooden, single-Deck screw Steamer with auxiliary mast
  • Engine: Vertical direct-acting, high-pressure steam engine by David Bell Engine Works, Buffalo
  • Dimensions: 40.9 m (134′3″) × 7.98 m (26′2″) × 3.68 m (12′1″)
  • Tonnage: 394 tons (old style), later remeasured to 487.23 gross tons
  • Final loss location: ~56 km (35 mi) off Kenosha, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
  • Loss date: 17 August 1877
  • Loss method: Destroyed by fire, burned to the waterline, sank in 15 ft of water
  • Cargo: None—vessel was light en route to Ludington from Chicago (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, UW-Madison Libraries, 2manitowoc.com)

Vessel Type

A mid-19th-century passenger and freight Steamship—representative of early screw steamers employed on competitive Great Lakes routes.

Description

Constructed with a wooden Hull and powered by a single screw and high-pressure steam engine. Featured a single Deck and modest superstructure, typical of commercial steam craft built during its era.

History & Chronology

  • 1857: Enrolled Buffalo (8 May); ownership changes noted through 1860s across New York, Michigan, and Chicago
  • 1865–66: Tonnage remeasured; vessel dimensions and designation updated
  • 1867–73: Experienced several incidents: grounded in Chicago (1867), collision and sinking in Straits of Mackinac (1868), record-breaking salvage from 125 ft depth (1870), Rebuild into steam Barge, and additional collisions and groundings in the Welland Canal and around Mackinac (1868–73)
  • 1877 (17 Aug): Caught fire ~35 mi off Kenosha while en route light from Chicago to Ludington; crew Abandoned in Yawl; vessel burned to waterline and sank (baillod.com)

Final Disposition

The City of Madison was completely destroyed by fire, burned down nearly to the waterline, and sank shortly after while unmanned. The fire was ruled to have been caused by the drunkenness of the second engineer (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).

Located By & Date Found

The wreck lies in shallow water (~15 ft), offshore and was never formally salvaged; Hull remains have been intermittently visible as sands shift.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No modern navigational warnings. Wreck is lightly marked and may be hazardous during low Visibility to small craft.

Shore Dive & Snorkel Information

  • Access: From Kenosha or Chicago-area dive charters
  • Depth: ~4.5 m (15 ft), suitable for snorkelling
  • Visibility: Often 3–6 m (10–20 ft), depending on conditions
  • Points of Interest: Charred Hull remains, framing, occasional machinery bits
  • Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
  • Safety: Be aware of boat traffic and sudden sand shifts
  • Best Time to Dive: June–September
  • Local Resources: Kenosha Historical Society; dive shops offer guided visits

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The City of Madison exemplified early Great Lakes merchant steamers. After a tumultuous service life—complete with several groundings, a deep-water salvage, collisions, and a Rebuild—her career ended in a fatal fire in 1877. Today, she remains partially visible and accessible in shallow waters, offering snorkelers and historians a tangible link to 19th-century steam navigation and its inherent risks.

Keywords & Categories

  • Wooden screw Steamer | Shallow water wreck | Kenosha maritime history | 19th-century Great Lakes commerce | Boiler fire | Steam Barge Conversion | Snorkeling site