Since the loss of the fur trading schooner Invincible in the vicinity of Whitefish Point in 1816, there have been several notable shipwrecks on Lake Superior. Out of the known shipwrecks in the lake, 34 of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, within the waters of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This list includes both shipwrecks in Lake Superior and the Saint Louis River.
List
Ship Ship type Build date Sunk date Flag Fate Coordinates Image Sources115Whaleback barge18911899A. A. ParkerWooden bulk freighter18841903A. BoothWooden steamer18861887Sank near Beaver Bay, Minnesota on July 28, 1887 after having been raised after a previous sinking.A. C. AdamsWooden tug18811923Built in Buffalo, New York, in 1881. Abandoned in circa 1923 near Duluth, Minnesota. Wreck located in 1990.AcadiaComposite package freighter18671896Adella ShoresWooden steam barge18941909Alex NimickWooden bulk freighter18901907A. L. HopkinsWooden steam barge18801911The A. L. Hopkins left Bayfield, Wisconsin on October 2, 1911 with a cargo of lumber. The same day she ran into a vicious squall which almost capsized her, and left her waterlogged. On October 3, 1911, her crew was rescued by the freighter Alva C. Dinkey. For the next who weeks, the Hopkins floated about Lake Superior until October 17, 1911, when she was sighted by the freighter William E. Corey off Michigan Island.Alfred P. WrightWooden bulk freighter18881915AlgomaSteel package freighter18831885AltadocSteel bulk freighter19011927AmboyWooden schooner-barge18741905On November 28, 1905 the Amboy and her towing steamer George Spencer were bound from Buffalo, New York for Duluth, Minnesota with a cargo of coal. They were eventually caught by the Mataafa Storm and ran aground near Schroeder, Minnesota. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.AmethystWooden tug18681888AmericaSteel passenger ship18981928AntelopeWooden schooner barge18611897On October 7, 1897 while under tow of the steamer Hiram W. Sibley with a cargo of coal, she sprang a leak off Michigan Island and sank. Wreck located in 2016, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.Annie M. PetersonWooden schooner barge18741914ArbutusWooden tug18871921ArcticWooden paddle steamer18511860ArlingtonSteel canaller19131940AtlantaWooden schooner-barge18901891AuraniaSteel bulk freighter18951909A. W. ComstockWooden schooner-barge18951895BannockburnSteel bulk freighter18931902BatchawanaWooden package freighter18811907Burned off Rousseau Island, near Coppermine Point on 26 June 1907.Belle P. CrossWooden steam barge18701903Built in 1870, in Trenton, Michigan. Only the rudder has been found.Benjamin NobleSteel canaller19091914Wreck located in 2004, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.BenningtonWooden scow18911908BermudaWooden schooner18601870/1883Bertha EndressWooden fish tug18761891Big Bay sloopWooden sloopSmall unidentified sloop believed to have been built between 1880 and 1920. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.Bob AndersonWooden tug18621899Burned near Colvill, Minnesota on August 5, 1899.BrandonWooden schooner18871888B. W. ArnoldWooden steam barge18851896CeceliaWooden schooner18651883CerisolesNavarin-class minesweeper19181918C. F. CurtisWooden steam barge18821914Charles H. BradleyWooden steam barge18901931Charles HebardWooden steam barge18881902Charles J. KershawWooden bulk freighter18741895Charles J. SheffieldSteel bulk freighter18871889Chauncy HurlbutWooden bulk freighter18731908Chester A. CongdonSteel bulk freighter19071918ChicagoSteel package freighter19011929City of AshlandWooden paddle steamer18831887On August 8, 1887 the City of Ashland was towing logs to a sawmill in Ashland, Wisconsin. When she was off Washburn, Wisconsin, a fire was discovered at the back of her pilothouse. The fire spread quickly and destroyed most of her hull. Eventually, she burned to the waterline with the loss of one life.City of BangorSteel bulk freighter18961927City of St. JosephSteel barge18901942City of SuperiorWooden package freighter18571857City of WinnipegWooden steamer18701881On July 19, 1881 the City of Winnipeg was in Duluth, Minnesota unloading her cargo of whisky and horses when a fire was discovered in wood pocket near her engine room. She eventually burned to the waterline with the loss of 4 lives. In July 1898 she was raised, and scuttled somewhere off Park Point in Lake Superior.ColoradoWooden package freighter18671898ColumbusWooden tug18741909CometWooden package freighter18571875CometWooden tug18811897ComradeWooden schooner-barge18831890CulliganWooden bulk freighter18831912CumberlandWooden paddle steamer18711877CyprusSteel bulk freighter19071907DagmarWooden fish tug19141935D. LeutyWooden steam barge18821911D. M. ClemsonSteel bulk freighter19031908Donna MarieWooden fish tug19381938DunelmSteel canaller19071910Edmund FitzgeraldSteel bulk freighter19581975EmeraldWooden paddle steamer1862Between 1893 and 1902Abandoned near the Lake Superior District Power Plant in Ashland, Wisconsin between 1893 and 1902.Emma A. MayersWooden schooner-barge18711884EmperorSteel bulk freighter19101947EssayonsSteel tug19082009E. T. CarringtonWooden tug18761907FedoraWooden bulk freighter18891901On September 20, 1901 the Fedora bound from Duluth, Minnesota to Ashland, Wisconsin to pick up a load of iron ore. While between Basswood Island and Red Cliff Bay, a kerosene lamp fell in the engine room and started a fire. Eventually, the Fedora was beached near Chicago Creek and burned to the water's edge.Ferdinand SchlesingerWooden bulk freighter18911919Frank W. WheelerWooden schooner-barge18841885Frank PerewWooden schooner-barge18671891Fred B. HallWooden tug18831909Gale StaplesWooden bulk freighter18881918GazelleWooden paddle steamer18581860Wrecked in Eagle Harbor, Michigan on 8 or 10 September 1860, after missing the piers and running aground.GenevaWooden bulk freighter18731873George M. CoxSteel package freighter19011933George NesterWooden schooner-barge18871909George SpencerWooden bulk freighter18841905On November 28, 1905 the George Spencer and her towing steamer Amboy were bound from Buffalo, New York for Duluth, Minnesota with a cargo of coal. They were eventually caught by the Mataafa Storm and ran aground near Schroeder, Minnesota. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.GlenlyonSteel package freighter18931924Golden RuleWooden schooner18561883GolspieWooden package freighter18821906Gray OakWooden scow-schooner18851911Green RiverWooden barge18871931GunildaSteel yacht18971911Harriet B.Wooden barge18951922At around 1:00 A.M. on May 3, 1922 the Harriet B. in tow of the steamer C.W. Jacob were loaded with pulpwood and were about 7 miles off Two Harbors, Minnesota, but due to the dense fog, the captain of the Jacob decided not to enter the harbor immediately. At around 4:50 A.M. the freighter Quincy A. Shaw rammed the Harriet B. almost cutting her in two. She sank in about 20 minutes. Wreck located in 2005, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.H. D. CoffinberryWooden bulk freighter1874Between 1912 and 1917Abandoned near Red Cliff, Wisconsin, between 1912 and 1917.Henry B. SmithSteel bulk freighter19061913Henry ChisholmWooden bulk freighter18801898Henry SteinbrennerSteel bulk freighter19011953Herman H. HettlerWooden steam barge18901927H. E. RunnelsWooden steam barge18931919Ran aground near Grand Marais, on 14 November 1919, while laden with coal, later breaking up.HesperWooden bulk freighter18901905On May 3, 1905 while on the way to Two Harbors, Minnesota, the Hesper was driven off course, and ran aground on a reef near Silver Bay, Minnesota. A wave eventually lifted her off the reef, and she sank in deeper water and broke up. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.HowardWooden tug18641921HudsonSteel package freighter18871901HunterWooden package freighter18771904HurontonSteel canaller18981923InkermanNavarin-class minesweeper19181918IoscoWooden bulk freighter18911905Ira H. OwenSteel bulk freighter18871905On November 28, 1905 the Ira H. Owen left Duluth, Minnesota with a cargo of barley bound for Buffalo, New York. As she approached the Apostle Islands, she started to encounter some bad weather, but at the time her captain decided against seeking shelter. Just as she passed Outer Island, she was struck by the full force of what was later to be known as the Mataafa Storm. Later that day, she was spotted by the freighter Harold B. Nye, and appeared to be in trouble. After about two hours, the Nye tried to look for the Owen but she was nowhere to be seen.Isle RoyaleWooden steamer18791885On July 27, 1885 the Isle Royale struck a reef during a minor storm and developed a leak while sailing near the Susie Islands. She eventually sank with no fatalities.J. BiglerWooden scow–schooner18661884James GayleySteel bulk freighter19021912James P. DonaldsonWooden steam barge18801923James PickandsWooden bulk freighter18861894J. L. CraneWooden schooner-barge18911925John B. CowleSteel bulk freighter19021909John Jacob AstorWooden schooner18351844John M. HutchinsonWooden schooner barge18731905John MitchellSteel bulk freighter19061911John M. OsbornWooden steam barge18821884John OwenComposite bulk freighter18891919J. S. SeavernsWooden steam barge18801884Judge HartSteel canaller19231942JupiterWooden schooner-barge18721872KakabekaWooden ferry18851895KamloopsSteel canaller19241927KiowaSteel ocean freighter19201929LafayetteSteel bulk freighter19001905On November 28, 1905 the Lafayette and her consort, the Manila were on their way to Two Harbors, Minnesota, when they were struck by the Mataafa Storm. The storm caused them to go aground behind Encampment Island. The Lafayette broke in two when the Manila collided with her. After the storm, the Manila was rescued, but only the stern of the Lafayette was rescued, as her bow had already gone to pieces.LambtonLighthouse tender19081922LanghamWooden bulk freighter18881910LeafieldSteel ocean freighter18921913LewisWooden schooner18841904LibertyWooden steamer18891919Burned, and became a total loss on July 6, 1919 near Grand Marais, Minnesota.Lizzie SuttonWooden steam yacht 18761886Lotta BernardWooden paddle steamer18691874On October 29, 1874 the Lotta Bernard was bound from Fort William, Ontario for Duluth, Minnesota with a cargo of flour, fish and a horse, when she ran into a powerful blizzard near Castle Danger, Minnesota and sank taking the lives of three of her crew.LucerneWooden schooner18731886On October 15, 1886 while loaded with iron ore bound from Ashland, Wisconsin for Cleveland, Ohio, the Lucerne was caught in a storm, and decided to head for the safety of Chequamegon Bay. After two or three days after she was last seen, she grounded and sank with the loss of all hands. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.MadeiraSteel barge19001905On November 28, 1905 the Madeira was being towed towards Duluth, Minnesota by the freighter William Edenborn. At about 3:30 A.M., the captain of the Edenborn decided to cit the Madeira loose. At about 5:30 A.M. the Madeira struck Gold Rock where she sank with the loss of one life. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.Maggie McRaeWooden schooner18721888ManhattanWooden steamboat18471859ManhattanWooden bulk freighter18871903ManisteeWooden steamer18671883On November 10, 1883 the Manistee left Duluth, Minnesota with 7 passengers and a 400-ton cargo bound for Ontonagon, Michigan. On November 11, 1883 she sought shelter in Bayfield, Wisconsin; while in port she transferred some of her passengers to the steamer City of Duluth. On November 16, 1883 she headed back out on to Lake Superior, and then disappeared somewhere east of the apostle Islands.MaplehurstSteel bulk freighter18921922MarquetteWooden bulk freighter18811903On October 15, 1903 while hauling iron ore from Ashland, Wisconsin bound for Cleveland, Ohio, she sprang a leak off Michigan Island and sank.