Brendon Baillod's Historic Wisconsin Shipwrecks

Fathoms Deep but Not Forgotten

I have decided to publish a synopsis of my Wisconsin Historic Shipwrecks Database online. Over the past 20 years, I've compiled a fairly complete database of historical losses to commercial shipping in Wisconsin waters. It is the culmination of many years of collecting archival materials and collaborating with other researchers. I've referenced several hundred sources in developing the material and I plan to publish it in book form with my accompanying vessel photos. The material below has appeared serially in the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology AssociationNewsletter Underwater Heritage. It presents a soundbite sized account of each wreck I investigated. In nearly every instance, I have a much more complete file on the vessel in question, but I've boiled the accounts down to a few sentences in the interest if time and space.

The data I've compiled is the most comprehensive and accurate study of Wisconsin shipwrecks published to date, but it is by no means complete or 100% accurate. I routinely find new primary source material with previously uncompiled historic wreck data and I am still adding new wreck accounts at least monthly. I also routinely find accounts of salvage to vessels that are generally accepted as having been total loss shipwrecks in most sources. As such, I consider this a work in progress.

Notes on References and Methodology

Kenosha Shipwrecks

Racine Shipwrecks

Milwaukee Shipwrecks 1825-1875

Milwaukee Shipwrecks 1876-1900

Milwaukee Shipwrecks 1901-1925

Milwaukee Shipwrecks 1926-Present

Port Washington Shipwrecks

Sheboygan Shipwrecks

Manitowoc Shipwrecks

Two Rivers Shipwrecks

Kewaunee Shipwrecks

Algoma Shipwrecks

Door County Shipwrecks

Green Bay Shipwrecks

Wisconsin's Lake Superior Shipwrecks