Identification & Site Information

Vessel Type

A mid-19th-century wooden side-wheel Steamer, designed for combined passenger and freight service along inland waterways and rivers.

Description

The General Grant featured a traditional wooden Hull and dual paddle wheels—a hallmark of river and coastal steamers of the era. At roughly 110 ft long and 22 ft wide, she was modest in size but functional, rated at 153 gross tons and equipped to transport passengers and smaller freight packages along the Detroit River.

History

Constructed in 1864 during the golden age of Paddlewheel steamers, the General Grant served regional traffic across the Great Lakes and connecting waterways. On 21 November 1876, she caught fire while navigating the Detroit River. Burned to a mere shell, the incident prompted her recovery: the Hull was raised and initially preserved for possible reconstruction. However, assessments concluded she was too aged and deteriorated. By 1880, the vessel was formally Abandoned—her potential renewal never realized (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).

Final Disposition

Following the fire, the Hull was salvaged, stabilized, and laid up after early restoration efforts proved unfeasible. Deemed structurally unsalvageable, she remained in preservation limbo until abandonment four years later.

Located By & Date Found

No modern archaeological rediscovery or wreck site information exists. The final resting place of the Hull—whether in salvage yard, riverbed, or scrap area—remains undocumented.

Notations & Advisories

No navigational chart markers or lighted hazards are associated with this site, as the Hull was removed and likely taken ashore. Presently, there is no hazard advisory connected to her remains.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The General Grant’s demise by fire on 21 November 1876 highlights both the vulnerabilities of wooden steamers to onboard fires and the determination of 19th-century preservation efforts, which nonetheless failed for her. Though her Hull was briefly salvaged, the scrapping of any restoration work reflects her final role as a sentimental remnant rather than a restored vessel. Her fate illustrates the era’s transitional challenges—from steam innovation to obsolescence—within the Great Lakes maritime landscape.

Suggested Keywords & Glossary Terms: side-wheel Steamer, paddle-wheel, Detroit River fire, Hull preservation, steam freight, 19th-century riverine transport
Suggested Categories:
Great Lakes shipwrecks | Detroit River losses | steam vessel disasters | Paddlewheel steamers