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The Great Lakes Shipwreck Graveyard

13 ON YOUR SIDE・24 minutes read

Many shipwreck stories were shared by Nate Belt, including the exploration of the s s Edmund Fitzgerald and other shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, showcasing Michigan's maritime history and ongoing efforts by underwater explorers to uncover these tales.

Insights

  • The Great Lakes Shipwreck Special, hosted by Nate Belt, showcased various shipwrecks, including the infamous s s Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in Lake Superior 50 years ago, and divers like Rick Mixter exploring the wreckage.
  • Shipwreck hunters like Ken Merriman, Jerry Eliasson, Kevin and Amy Ales, and David Trotter have made significant discoveries, uncovering lost vessels like the Pier Marquette 18, the LC Woodsruff, and the Clifton, shedding light on Michigan's rich maritime history through their expeditions.

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Recent questions

  • What is the Great Lakes Shipwreck Special about?

    It shares nine shipwreck stories.

  • Where did the Edmund Fitzgerald sink?

    In Lake Superior.

  • Who discovered the Pier Marquette 18 car ferry?

    Ken Merriman and Jerry Eliasson.

  • How were the shipwrecks identified?

    Through matching lifeboat cradles and historical records.

  • What historical significance do the shipwrecks hold?

    They provide a real-time glimpse into the past.

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Summary

00:00

Great Lakes Shipwreck Stories Unveiled

  • Nate Belt hosts the Great Lakes Shipwreck Special, sharing nine shipwreck stories.
  • The s s Edmund Fitzgerald, the largest shipwreck in the Great Lakes, sank in Lake Superior 50 years ago.
  • Rick Mixter, a diver, explored the Fitzgerald wreck site 530 feet below the lake surface.
  • Mixter saw intact parts of the ship, like the bow section and the damage caused by the impact.
  • The wreck hunters Ken Merriman and Jerry Eliasson found the Pier Marquette 18 car ferry in Lake MI in 2020.
  • The ferry sank in 1910, and the hunters located it 25 miles east of Sheboygan, WI.
  • The wreck was identified by matching lifeboat cradles and historical records.
  • A beachcomber discovered the Arcantors schooner wreck in 1903 on the Garden Peninsula.
  • The wreck was identified by Craig Rich of the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association.
  • Kevin and Amy Ales found and identified two shipwrecks, the Dolphin and the Peshtigo, during their honeymoon in the Great Lakes.

15:22

Shipwrecks Uncovered: Michigan's Historical Discoveries

  • A shipwreck from the 1800s, the LC Woodsruff, was exposed along Lake MI's shoreline near the White Lake Channel in Muskegon.
  • The wreck was previously exposed in 1942 and 1974 before being buried by wind, waves, and shifting sands.
  • The shipwreck identification process was demonstrated by Bernascroft, revealing the spine and ribs of the ship.
  • Historical news accounts indicated that six schooners met their fate near the White Lake Channel, narrowing down the possibilities for the wreck's identity.
  • An expedition led by Valerie Van Heest and Eric Harmsen examined the remains to identify the ship, concluding it was likely the Contest, a medium schooner lost in 1882.
  • The discovery of the shipwreck provided a real-time glimpse into the past, showcasing a time capsule of history.
  • Another shipwreck, believed to be the Jarvis Lord, a 193-foot freighter that sank in 1885, was discovered in Lake Huron by David Trotter and his team.
  • Trotter's decades-long search for the Clifton, a 308-foot freighter that disappeared in 1924, finally ended with its discovery in Lake Huron in 2016.
  • The Clifton was found overturned on its port side, with the wheel still attached, providing a significant historical find after nearly a century.
  • The discovery of the Lizzie Throop, an 85-foot schooner that sank in 1873, near South Haven added to the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association's list of found shipwrecks.

31:36

Exploring Michigan's Shipwreck History

  • Northwest Flight 2501 is the ultimate goal of the expedition
  • Efforts have brought to light a piece of Michigan's maritime history
  • The Great Lakes have claimed many ships and sailors over centuries
  • Underwater explorers will continue finding wrecks and sharing their tales
  • More information on the stories can be found on website 13onyourside.com
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