Sheboygan Shipwrecks Maritime Trails Marker
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Shipwrecks of Sheboygan County Maritime Trails Marker
 
Details
Attraction
Location
Body of Water: Lake Michigan
Trail Name: Mid Lake Michigan
Year Built: 2016
Nearest Address: 226 S Pier Dr
Nearest City: Sheboygan
County: Sheboygan
Zip Code: 53081
Latitude: N 43° 44.901'
Longitude: W -087° 42.235'
Attraction
Features
Open to public?: Yes
Mooring buoy?: No
Mooring buoy in place?: No
Snorkelable?: No
Dive guide?: No
Trails sign?: Yes
National Register?: No
Attraction
Description
Marker is located on the eastern wall of the South Pier Drive restroom.
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Marker Narrative Text:
Shipwrecks of Sheboygan County
Centuries of History Beneath the Waves

Maritime transport has been an important part of Sheboygan County’s history for hundreds of years. The shipwrecks located here represent a wide range of Wisconsin’s maritime trades and vessel types, and provide a unique glimpse into Wisconsin’s rich maritime heritage. Historic records indicate that more than 50 vessels have been lost beneath the waves of Sheboygan County, yet only a few of these have been found.

Historic records indicate many more wait to be discovered!

Walter B. Allen
The Walter B. Allen was a 296-ton, two-masted schooner, built to fit in the Welland canal, connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. On April 17, 1880, she was being towed to a shipyard for repairs when she foundered northeast of Sheboygan. Today, she lies upright and completely intact in 170 feet of water. The mainmast broke at deck level and toppled to the port side in the winter of 2006-2007. Her foremast toppled over the winter of 2010-2011.

Selah Chamberlain
This 1,207-ton steam barge collided with the John Pridgeon, Jr. in a dense fog off Sheboygan on October 14, 1886. She quickly sank in 65 feet of water, taking five of her crew with her. Today, her hull is largely broken up, but her twin boilers, steeple compound engine, sternpost, propeller, and rudder remain upright and intact.

Hetty Taylor
The Hetty Taylor was an 84-ton, two-masted schooner built in 1874 in Milwaukee. She sailed as a trading schooner until she capsized in a storm on August 16, 1880. Today, she lies mostly intact in 110 feet of water.

Advance
This 180-ton, two-masted schooner was built in 1853 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On September 8, 1885, the Advance became waterlogged and capsized in a gale with a large cargo of bark. The captain and four crew drowned while attempting to reach shore. Only one sailor, Jacob Raum, survived. Today she lies broken in 85 feet of water south of Sheboygan.

Silver Lake
This 105-ton, two-masted scow schooner sailed in the lumber trade until she collided with the car ferry Pere Marquette on May 28, 1900. Today, she lies upright and intact in 205 feet of water. Her hull is fractured from the collision, but her foremast remains standing with a rigged yard.

Helvetia
The Helvetia was a 793-ton, three-masted schooner. She was cut down to a schooner barge and continued to sail until she was scuttled northeast of Sheboygan on September 10, 1921. Today, she lies in 165 feet of water with much of her hull intact.

Robert C. Pringle
This 141-ton, wooden steam screw first served as the excursion boat Chequamegon and was later converted to a work tug. While towing the steamer Venezuela, enroute to Sandusky, Ohio, the Pringle struck a submerged object and sank off Sheboygan on June 19, 1922. Today, she lies upright and completely intact in 300 feet of water.

Byron
Little is known about the trading schooner Byron. Just under 40 feet in length, the tiller-steered, two-masted schooner sank on May 8, 1867, loaded with sundries. Today, she lies in 135 feet of water with her hull intact but her deck collapsed.

Atlanta
The Atlanta was a 1,129-ton, wooden propeller built in 1891 in Cleveland, Ohio, for the Goodrich Transportation Company. She spent most of her life sailing the passenger and package trade between Lake Michigan ports until she caught fire and burned to the waterline on March 18, 1906. Today, she lies in 17 feet of water south of Sheboygan.
 
Map
 
Nearby
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Hetty Taylor Buoy
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Phoenix Maritime Trails Marker
Selah Chamberlain Buoy
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Sheboygan Shipwrecks Maritime Trails Marker
Shipwrecks (40)
Abiah (1847)
Ahnapee (1867)
Baltimore (1847)
Belle Wallbridge (1857)
Big Z (1844)
Black Warrior (1854)
Blue Belle (1867)
Brilliant (1856)
Commerce (1857)
Conquest (1853)
View 30 more
Shipwrecks (40)
Abiah (1847)
Ahnapee (1867)
Baltimore (1847)
Belle Wallbridge (1857)
Big Z (1844)
Black Warrior (1854)
Blue Belle (1867)
Brilliant (1856)
Commerce (1857)
Conquest (1853)
David Wagstaff (1863)
Detroit (1886)
E.G. Wolcott
E.M. Portch (1867)
Equator (1842)
Fair Play (1855)
Graham Brothers (1874)
Greyhound (1853)
Hampton (1845)
Hannah Etty (1864)
Hercules (1854)
Hetty Taylor (1874)
I.A. Johnson (1867)
J.M. Harvey (1896)
Julia (1843)
L.B. Nichols (1854)
Lottie Cooper (1876)
Lynx (1905)
Melrose (1852)
Ocean Eagle (1855)
Petrel (1847)
Phoenix (1845)
R.H. Becker (1867)
Selah Chamberlain (1873)
W.F. Allen, Jr. (1853)
Walter B. Allen (1866)
White Oak (1867)
William A. Reiss (1901)
Winona (1863)
Wollin (1854)
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