Pilot Island Maritime Trails Marker
Gallery
img
The Pilot Island Maritime Trails Marker
 
Attraction
Description
The Maritime Trails marker describing the three shipwrecks near Pilot Island is at the Northport Ferry Terminal of the Washington Island Ferry. The sign is on the right of the loading area. Pilot Island, which is not accessible to the public, is straight ahead of the sign. The Pilot Island shipwrecks rest in 20-50 feet of water and are marked with a Wisconsin Historical Scoeity seasonal mooring buoy. On the night of October 28, 1891, the scow-schooner Forest entered the Death's Door en route from Chicago to Nahma, Michigan. A gale struck and drove the ship onto the reef at Pilot Island. The following day, the crew of five rowed to shore and took refuge at the lighthouse. The next fall the dangerous passage wrecked two more schooners at the same spot. On Oct. 17 the J.E. Gilmore entered the passage and was blown onto the reef. The crew waited out the storm on board. On Oct. 28, a fierce storm drove the A.P. Nichols onto the rocks near the Gilmore and Forest. In a daring rescue, the lighthouse crew helped the sailors leap from the rolling Nichols onto the icy deck of the Forest to reach Pilot Island.
 
Map
 
Nearby
© 2026 - Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Historical Society