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Eastern Lake Ontario Shipwrecks
Explore the Proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary
Maritime Heritage
Lake Ontario's maritime history spans thousands of years, from the earliest peoples to present. The first regional inhabitants—the ancestors of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy—developed a deep connection to the lake and its resources. As these communities grew, the connected waterways of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River facilitated the transportation of goods, people, and ideas that connected distant groups. With the arrival of European nations, waterways became critical information highways and a means of migrating to the country's heartland. Trade and commerce similarly expanded, bringing new opportunities that fostered innovation and industry.
Today, countless generations have found meaning and a sense of place in the region's maritime environment. This meaning and sense of place is expressed and preserved in a wide variety of maritime cultural resources, from sacred places and cultural practices to lighthouses and historic shipwrecks. Together, these tangible and intangible elements form a rich maritime cultural landscape that the proposed sanctuary will interpret, protect, and preserve.
The central feature of the proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary's maritime cultural landscape is the extraordinary collection of historic shipwrecks and aircraft lost in eastern Lake Ontario. Together, these archaeological sites represent more than two centuries of human use, innovation, tragedies, and triumphs. Their stories, which have re-emerged with every new shipwreck discovery, connect past and present generations while building a deeper understanding of the incredible history and heritage of eastern Lake Ontario.
Explore the Shipwrecks
NOAA is proposing a 1,724 square mile boundary in eastern Lake Ontario. The proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary includes 43 known shipwrecks and one aircraft. Based on historical records, an additional 20 shipwrecks, three aircraft, and several other underwater archaeological sites may be located there.
Eastern Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario's waters have preserved an underwater collection of shipwrecks and aircraft associated with the region's robust maritime history. Click or scroll through the numbered resources below to learn more about these sites and their stories.
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1
St. Peter (1873-1898)
The schooner St. Peter was built in 1873 to carry bulk cargoes throughout the Great Lakes. While transporting coal from Oswego, New York to Toledo, Ohio in late October 1898, the schooner foundered in a gale off Sodus, New York. The following year, the site was rediscovered by the South Shore Wrecking Company, which hoped to recover the body of the captain’s wife. Investigation of the site, located in 120 feet of water, was a feat for 19th century diving technology. Numerous local residents accompanied the wrecking crew to the site to see, firsthand, the diving rig and salvage operations. While the recovery was unsuccessful, divers worked at the site through the summer, salvaging rigging and reducing the standing masts as the site was a hazard to navigation.
The site was rediscovered by divers in 1971 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which recognizes its historic and cultural significance. Artifacts from the wreck are displayed at the Williamson-Pultneyville Historical Society. Located in 120 feet of water, the well-intact hull makes for an excellent recreational dive.
2
Queen of the Lakes (1858-1906)
Built as a Canadian schooner for Great Lakes commerce, Queen of the Lakes operated throughout lakes Michigan, Erie, Huron, and Ontario for nearly 50 years--an exceptional length of time for a schooner. During its lifespan, repairs were required every 15-20 years to ensure that the hull and machinery remained seaworthy. Despite these efforts, the schooner sprang a leak during a November storm in 1906 while returning to Kingston, Ontario with a cargo of coal. The hull began to roll and soon foundered, leaving the crew to row their small yawl boat 15 miles to shore amidst a gale in the dark of night. Queen of the Lakes would remain preserved and undisturbed in the deep cold waters of the lake for another century until it was discovered in 2011 by local shipwreck explorers. The schooner has since been visited by technical divers, who report a remarkable state of preservation.
3
Lady Washington (1797-1803)
The earliest known shipwreck in the proposed Lake Ontario boundary is Lady Washington, a Pennsylvania-built sloop. Purchased for use on the lake in 1801, the sloop brought goods between Canadian and American ports. During a trip across the lake in 1803, Lady Washington disappeared and was presumed lost with all hands. For the next 200 years, the vessel would sit undiscovered on the lakebed. The site was discovered by local shipwreck explorers in 2016, who used an remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to obtain video. The discovery team believes Lady Washington is the oldest confirmed commercial sailing ship to be discovered in the Great Lakes.
4
David W. Mills (1874-1919)
Built in Cleveland, Ohio, the propeller David W. Mills operated for an incredible 45 years as a bulk cargo carrier on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. In August 1919, as Mills traveled from Montreal to Sodus, New York, heavy smoke from nearby forest fires obscured the light from the Oswego lighthouse and the vessel struck Ford Shoal at full speed. Given the severity of the damage to the wooden steamer, the captain and crew remained on board until insurance underwriters could visit the wreck. Two wrecking companies visited the scene, however the damage was fatal. Ultimately, the vessel broke in two with the hull coming ashore. Local community members were encouraged to recycle the beached portion into lumber. A Cleveland wrecking company eventually returned to the water-logged portion to remove parts of the steam machinery. Today, the remains of David W. Mills are still located next to Ford Shoal. The site was designated a Submerged Cultural Preserve and Dive Site by the state of New York in 2000.
5
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor (1952)
The Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor aircraft was an American training aircraft model used during and after World War II. While on a 1952 training run from Rome, New York, this twin engine C-45 Expeditor experienced an engine failure, but reportedly flew for another 65 miles on a single engine. The crew and passengers on board bailed out while the aircraft itself crashed into Lake Ontario. The aircraft was located by local wreck explorers during a remote sensing survey in 2014.
6
Bay State (1852-1862)
An early 19th century steamer, Bay State operated on lakes Erie, Michigan, and Ontario. Built in Buffalo, New York, the steamer operated as part of the Northern Transportation Company, carrying passengers and cargo throughout New York and the Midwest. Bay State wrecked during a strong storm off Oswego while en route to Lake Erie. The entire crew was lost, including five Oswego residents. Discovered by local wreck explorers in 2015, Bay State lies in technical diving depths. The hull of Bay State remains upright but shows some natural deterioration.
7
Three Brothers (1827-1833)
One of the early locally-built commercial vessels on Lake Ontario is Three Brothers, built in Henderson, New York, in 1827. Captain John Stevenson of Williamson, New York commanded the new dagger-board schooner. Three Brothers disappeared in a storm while en route to Oswego from Pultneyville with a cargo of apples, cider, and wheat. Local residents assumed the worst when the tiller and a barrel of apples were found on shore. The vessel was located by local shipwreck explorers in 2014, who used the clearly-visible dagger-board to help confirm the wreck’s identity. To date, it is the oldest commercial schooner discovered in the Great Lakes. The shipwreck is remarkably well-preserved given its age and has significant archaeological potential.
8
Hartford (1873-1894)
The schooner Hartford was built at Gibraltar, Michigan for commercial trade on the Great Lakes. The three-masted schooner was soon registered in Oswego, New York, carrying bulk cargoes of agricultural products and coal. In October 1894, Hartford was traveling from Detroit, Michigan to Cape Vincent, New York when it was caught in an October storm off Mexico Bay. A lookout at the Big Sandy Lifesaving Station noticed the vessel drifting towards shore and roused the station crew. As they watched the vessel, it began to roll violently in the water.
Over the next few days, all the attempts to reach Hartford were unsuccessful and the hull was abandoned where it sank offshore, claiming the lives of the entire crew, including the captain, his wife, and their infant daughter. Months after the initial wrecking, Hartford continued to inspire the local community who published poetry or memories of the vessel and lost crew members. Today, Hartford is one of the most accessible shipwreck sites within the proposed sanctuary as a portion of Hartford washed ashore near Sandy Creek. Due to the dynamic nearshore environment, this section is already covered with sand, but may re-emerge with future storms and seasonal changes. The site is considered an archaeological resource protected by New York State law; while visitation is encouraged, visitors should refrain from touching, moving, or removing any part of the wreckage.
9
American (1870-1894)
Over the course of its 24-year career, the schooner American saw four owners as it operated throughout Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Toward the end of its career, the vessel was converted to a barge that required additional assistance from local tug boats. In the fall of 1894, American was headed for Prescott, Ontario from Oswego when it began to sink off the Galloo Island light. The crew escaped to the steamer Hall, however, American was a total loss. During a remote sensing survey in 2008, remains were potentially identified but not visited until 2014. Much of the wreck remains intact today, making it an excellent dive site within recreational diving depths.
10
Ellsworth (1869-1879)
Built at Seneca Lake, New York as a sailing vessel, Ellsworth was later outfitted as a steam vessel that traversed both the Great Lakes and inland river systems around New York. After catching fire in 1877, the vessel settled close to shore at Stony Island in 20 feet of water. The following year, the owner returned to the site with a wrecking expedition to raise the hull. While divers successfully recovered the engine, the vessel was so badly burned that it broke in two at the surface and returned to the lakebed. Recently, the remains of Ellsworth were located during a sidescan sonar survey conducted off Stony Island. Due to the machinery salvage and partial raising, the hull remains split and partially collapsed. The shipwreck has important historical ties to the area’s history of salvage and commercial diving.
Visiting the Shipwrecks
The shipwreck and aircraft locations depicted on these maps correspond to historical records; these maps may not accurately reflect the site's location today. If you are interested in visiting these shipwrecks, please contact an experienced tour operator or dive shop.
These shipwrecks and aircraft are protected by the State of New York. When visiting any archaeological resource, be mindful of your impacts. The best practice is to take only pictures and leave nothing behind. Your actions can help preserve these sites for future generations.
For more information on the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and additional sanctuary programs, please visit https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/ .