Louisiana (shipwreck) | |
 TheLouisiana prior to the storm | |
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| Location | Lake Michigan off the coast ofWashington, Door County, Wisconsin |
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| Coordinates | 45°23′58.8″N86°55′21.6″W / 45.399667°N 86.922667°W /45.399667; -86.922667 |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000104 |
| Added to NRHP | March 19, 1992 |
TheLouisiana was asteamboat that sank inLake Michigan off the coast ofWashington, Door County, Wisconsin, United States, during theGreat Lakes Storm of 1913. In 1992 the shipwreck site was added to theNational Register of Historic Places.[1]
TheLouisiana was constructed inMarine City, Michigan in 1887, while her engine was built at theDry Dock Complex inDetroit,Michigan.[2]
On November 2, 1913, the Louisiana departed fromLorain, Ohio to deliver a load of coal toMilwaukee, Wisconsin.[3] After completing her stop in Milwaukee, theLouisiana made way forEscanaba, Michigan to pick up a load of iron ore. In the early morning hours of November 8, the ship passed throughPorte des Morts. Upon reaching the strait, she was greeted by a severe snowstorm. The captain attempted to take refuge atWashington Island inDoor County, Wisconsin, but the heavy seas and howling wind proved too strong for the ship's anchors to hold her in place, and she was run aground.
Despite the situation on board theLouisiana, the crew opted to remain aboard the vessel rather than taking the one small lifeboat they had out to the raging seas. However, a fire broke out in the cargo hold later in the morning and the crew members were left with no choice. A rescue ship had been deployed fromPlum Island, but the breaking waves were too powerful for the ship to be able to reach the crew.[4] In the end, the crew was able to make it to shore.
The ship's boiler, engine, propeller, propeller shaft and rudder were later salvaged.[5] Currently, the site is a popular area for divers and archaeologists.[6] It lies in 10 to 25 feet (3.0 to 7.6 m) of water on the southeast side of Washington Harbor.[7]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1913 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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