1881 shipwreck discovered in Lake Michigan in remarkable condition, resembling a ship in a bottle.
A Shipwreck Time Capsule: The Discovery of the Trinidad
In 1881, a ship met its watery grave in the depths of Lake Michigan. Now, over a century later, shipwreck hunters have unearthed this remarkable relic, describing it as a “time capsule” that has miraculously withstood the test of time.
The Trinidad, a schooner that once transported grain between Wisconsin, Illinois, and New York, was discovered in July by Brendon Baillod and Robert Jaeck. After two years of dedicated searching, these maritime historians finally located the remains of the ship, resting roughly 10 miles off the Wisconsin coastline.
“We were stunned to see that not only was the deckhouse still intact, but it also contained all the crew’s belongings, from stacked dishes to personal effects,” Baillod revealed to the New York Times. “It’s like a ship in a bottle. A true time capsule.”
Shipwreck hunters have discovered the intact remains of a schooner that sank in Lake Michigan in 1881 and is so well-preserved it still contains the crew’s long-ago possessions in its final resting spot miles from Wisconsin’s coastline. https://t.co/XSTPmIYqId
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 1, 2023
The Trinidad had eight men on board who managed to escape in a lifeboat and reach Algoma, Wisconsin, in May 1881. Sadly, the ship’s loyal dog perished in the sinking.
According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, “The captain and the crew immediately escaped in the ship’s yawl and after battling waves, the cold crew made it into Algoma (then Ahnapee). The only loss aboard the TRINIDAD was the ship’s mascot, a large Newfoundland dog who was asleep next to the stove when the ship began to sink.”
Baillod and Jaeck relied on the account written by John Higgins, the ship’s captain, to guide their search for the wreck.
“The wreck is one of the best-preserved shipwrecks in Wisconsin waters, with its deckhouse still intact, containing the crew’s possessions and its anchors and deck gear still present,” stated a press release about the ship’s discovery.
With the assistance of the Wisconsin Historical Society, an underwater craft was chartered to survey the wreckage of the Trinidad and confirm its location.
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Originally constructed in 1867, the Trinidad played a vital role in the grain trade between the upper Midwest, Pennsylvania, and New York. Sadly, the 140-foot long schooner met its demise when it sprung a leak while passing through the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal in Door County, Wisconsin, carrying a load of coal. The ship’s lack of maintenance contributed to its tragic fate.
“If you lived in Philadelphia, Boston, or New York in the 1860s and ’70s and you’re eating a sandwich, the bread in that sandwich was almost certainly grown in Wisconsin and brought on a schooner,” Baillod shared with the Times.
Baillod expressed his hope that the wrecked ship could be made visible to the public, emphasizing that these resources belong to the public and should be accessible to all.
For a 3D model of the ship, check out the Ship Wreck World post or watch the video here.
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