The wreck of the historic schooner Margaret A. Muir has been discovered off the coast of Algoma, Wisconsin, in Lake Michigan, the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association (WUAA) announced in July 2024.
Built in 1872 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the 130-foot, three-masted schooner sank during a storm in 1893 while transporting a cargo of bulk salt from Bay City, Michigan to Chicago.
All six crew members survived, but the ship captain’s dog was lost. The wreck, located in 50 feet of water, is no longer intact, but all its deck gear remains, including two giant anchors, hand pumps, its bow windlass and its capstan.
The discovery, made with a sidescan sonar, highlights Wisconsin’s rich maritime heritage. The WUAA plans to map and document the wreck, ensuring its story is preserved for future generations.
Visit wuaa.org for more information.
Tamara Thomsen, State Historical Society of Wisconsin
