Louisiana Maritime Trails Marker
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Louisiana Maritime Trails Marker
 
Details
Attraction
Location
Body of Water: Green Bay
Trail Name: Green Bay/Door County
Nearest Address: Schoolhouse Beach - Washington Harbor
Nearest City: Washington Island
County: Door
Zip Code: 54246
Latitude: N 45°23.86200'
Longitude: W -086°55.65054'
Attraction
Features
Open to public?: Yes
Mooring buoy?: No
Mooring buoy in place?: No
Snorkelable?: Yes
Dive guide?: Yes
Trails sign?: Yes
National Register?: No
Attraction
Description
The Louisiana Maritime Trails historic marker is located at School House Beach, Washington Harbor, Washington Island. Washington Island, at the tip of Door County, can be accessed by seasonal ferry. The bulk carrier Louisiana, built in 1887, was a steam driven freighter. Nearly 270 feet long, she carried bulk cargoes such as coal and iron ore on the Great Lakes until she sank in 1913. In November 1913, the Louisiana sailed into the worst storm in Great Lakes history. En route from Milwaukee to the ore docks of Escanaba, Michigan, she slipped through Death's Door near midnight on November 8. Heavy seas and 70mph winds forced the captain to seek shelter in Washington Harbor, but the storm drove the vessel aground. The dire situation worsened when the crew discovered a fire in the hold. Unable to extinguish the blaze, the 17 crew members took to the lifeboat, leaving the Louisiana to the ravages of fire and storm. The crew landed safely on shore. The Great Storm of 1913 blew unabated for four days, sinking 20 vessels, damaging 71 others, and claiming the lives of 248 sailors. Despite the storm's fury, much of the Louisiana survived, and the site is ideal for kayakers, snorkelers, and divers. Almost 240 feet of bilge lies on the gradually sloping bottom. Although the machinery was salvaged in 1920, artifacts such as bearings, pipes, and sheet metal surround the iron engine mount and broken cylinders in the stern. This site is best accessed by boat. The adjacent shoreline and dock are private property.
 
Map
 
Nearby
Attractions (4)
Jackson Harbor Maritime Museum
Jacobsen Museum
Louisiana Maritime Trails Marker
Washington Island Ferry
© 2026 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society