Illinois (1837)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: ILLINOIS
• Type: Sidewheel Steamer / Propeller Barge
• Year Built: circa 1837
• Builder: Charles Worth
• Dimensions: 205 ft 6 in (62.6 m) X 29 ft 2 in (8.9 m); Depth 13 ft 1 in (4.0 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 755 20/95 tons (old style)
• Depth at Wreck Site: 4 m / 13 ft
• Location: Port Austin, Michigan
• Original Owners: Oliver Newberry, Capt. McAlpine, Sarah Kelly & William Warriner
• Number of Masts: 3 (initial), reduced to 1 in final rebuild

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Initially built as a barge, the ILLINOIS underwent several transformations throughout its service life, including conversions to a sidewheel steamer and later to a propeller steambarge.

Description

The ILLINOIS was constructed of wood and featured a single deck. It was originally launched as a barge in 1836 and was later converted to a sidewheel steamer in 1838, which included the addition of upper decks and cabins. The vessel was notable for its size and capacity, accommodating approximately 300 passengers.

History

The ILLINOIS was launched on December 22, 1836, and enrolled under the ownership of Oliver Newberry in 1838. Throughout its operational history, the vessel faced numerous challenges, including collisions and machinery failures, leading to multiple repairs. By 1850, it was deemed unfit for use and laid up for two years before being dismantled. The original engine was later transferred to a newly built vessel of the same name in 1853. The hull was repurposed for lumber use in 1861 and underwent several rebuilds, including a conversion for passenger trade in 1868.

Significant Incidents

• 1839–1844: Suffered collisions and machinery failures; repaired multiple times.
• 1850: Deemed unfit for use; laid up for two years, dismantled at Detroit.
• 1867: Sunk in Detroit River; later raised.
• 1868, Sep 13: Foundered in a storm while loaded with lumber near Port Austin, MI; crew escaped in boats.

Final Disposition

The ILLINOIS foundered in a storm on September 13, 1868, while carrying a cargo of lumber. The crew managed to escape in boats, but the vessel was lost to the depths of Lake Huron.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No known dive documentation or confirmed site coordinates are currently recorded in the NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary or private registries. The wreck is believed to be in deep water near Port Austin.

Resources & Links

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The ILLINOIS represents one of the earliest large sidewheelers on the Great Lakes, undergoing numerous conversions and ownerships over its three-decade lifespan. Its career included both passenger and freight service, collisions, mechanical failures, and rebuilds—culminating in its foundering during a storm off Port Austin in 1868. While not widely remembered today, the vessel played a key role in early Great Lakes navigation.