The midships area is filled primarily with iron ore, which has buried part of the port -side frametops . The centerboard trunk and many of the hold stanchions remain in an upright position, and the centerboard can still be seen inside the trunk. Reportedly, the centerboard winch was taken by sport divers in the 1970s. The deck is gone, except for the small section of foredeck. Deck beams and fallen stanchions lie in the hold on top of the ore. On the starboard side, a shelf and row of hanging knees mark the former upper deck. A number of dead trees and stumps are in the hold and tangled about the wreck. As the only feature on a sand bottom, the Lucerne wreck is a trap for driftwood and dead trees that wash out from nearby Long Island.

The Lucerne is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is protected by state and federal laws. The wreck is a popular site for sport divers, who enjoy exploring the relatively intact hull and learning about the ship's dramatic history. The Lucerne site often offers excellent conditions for watching fish and taking underwater photographs and videos.

If you want to learn more, you can visit the Lucerne exhibit at Duluth Canal Park Marine Museum in Duluth, Minn. It includes many artifacts and a reconstruction of the Lucerne's forecastle cabin . You can learn more about the Lucerne's history and archeological findings in the report "By Fire, Storm, and Ice," edited by David J. Cooper, 1991, Wisconsin Historical Society.

Learn more about Protecting Our Heritage in the Diver's Area.