Identification & Site Information

Final Voyage & Loss

  • On April 30, 1892, Snow Drop attempted to seek shelter during a spring storm while bound for Milwaukee from Ford River with her cedar post cargo. Storm conditions forced her onto the rocky shore, where she was wrecked and declared a Total Loss (wuaa.org).
  • Of her seven crew members, all survived by making it ashore; no casualties were reported (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Archival & Research Gaps

To deepen documentation and support future research or survey planning, the following records and data should be accessed:

  • Enrollment & Registry Records
    Enrollment documentation may hold details of the vessel’s construction, tonnage, and owner, accessible through Buffalo or Milwaukee Customs archives (circa 1853).
  • Crew & Cargo Manifests
    Identifying her master, crew roster, and full cargo list may be possible through customs manifests or Chicago shipping logs.
  • Incident Reports
    Local newspaper accounts (Milwaukee Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, April–May 1892) could offer firsthand rescue narratives and storm conditions.
  • Weather Data
    Environment Canada or NOAA historical records for Lake Michigan in late April 1892 may clarify the storm’s severity.
  • Wreck Site Details
    Consultation of 1892 nautical charts and local historical sources could help pinpoint the wreck’s exact location for archaeological follow-up.

Wreck & Field Survey Potential

  • Likely Wreck Site: Just offshore from Milwaukee County, with shallow rocky outcrops.
  • Expected Remains: Fragments of Hull, fasteners, cargo remnants such as cedar posts, and her mast step may still survive in situ or buried in sediment.
  • Survey Approach:
    • Overlay of historic charts with modern bathymetry
    • Side-scan sonar and magnetometer survey of the rocky shoreline zone
    • Shallow diver inspection for cedar post debris or iron fittings; photogrammetric documentation of site condition

Historical & Cultural Significance

  • As a mid-19th-century timber Schooner with nearly 40 years of service, Snow Drop represents a longstanding craft in the lumber trade.
  • Her loss emphasizes the hazards of spring storms on early-season sail vessels, particularly when hauling heavy cargo.
  • Locating and documenting the wreck could offer valuable insights into vessel durability, cargo handling, and shoreline vessel protection practices in the 1800s.

Recommended Next Steps

  • Submit archive requests for enrollment (National Archives – Detroit or Buffalo districts)
  • Retrieve contemporary newspaper stories for April–May 1892
  • Acquire historical meteorological data to quantify the storm event
  • Coordinate a maritime survey targeting the wreck area off Milwaukee to evaluate site preservation and artifact potential