Almost 150 years ago, the Schooner Trinidad met its watery end in the icy waters of Lake Michigan. Built for the Cross Lake grain trade, Trinidad sank in 1881, roughly 10 miles off the coast of Algoma, Wisconsin. Today, we delve into the fascinating discovery of this 142-year-old ship, found remarkably intact, akin to a ship in a bottle.
**Hunting History**
The recent discovery is the result of two years of intensive searching. Archaeologists meticulously collected historical news articles about the Trinidad, studying shipping lanes to locate a previously unseen image of the boat. Described in a newspaper article of the time as one of the finest Schooners ever seen, the poorly maintained Trinidad sank slowly, leading archaeologists to believe it likely remained intact.
In July, archaeologists employed sonar technology to search for the ship. With the assistance of Tamara Thompson, the Wisconsin Historical Society’s underwater archaeologist, they identified a wreck with dimensions matching historical records of the Trinidad.
**The Dive Into History**
Diver Zach White Rock and Tamara Thompson descended to the lake floor to capture images of the site. To their amazement, they found the vessel’s deck house still intact, along with crew possessions, dishes, anchors, and bells – a time capsule frozen in the depths of Lake Michigan.
Brendan Bylad and Bob Jack, the archaeologists behind the discovery, noted that despite lasting only 14 years, Trinidad’s wreckage is among the top three intact ship remains found in Wisconsin waters. Trinidad, built in 1867, was a canal schooner, and its discovery sheds light on a crucial era of maritime trade.
**Trinidad’s Story Unveiled**
Trinidad, despite being part of the lucrative grain trade on the Great Lakes, received little maintenance. Insurance records suggest it was essentially sailed into the bottom of the lake. The ship’s final journey in 1881 saw it filled with water, prompting the crew to abandon ship. Captain John Higgins and his crew rowed for nearly eight hours in chilly weather, eventually reaching Algoma.
The Newfoundland dog onboard didn’t survive, but the ship’s impressive preservation at the lake bottom offers a unique window into the past. The discovery adds to the treasury trove of shipwrecks in the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, highlighting the region’s significance in underwater archaeology.
As the Trinidad awaits inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, its precise coordinates will be shared with the public, allowing divers and history enthusiasts to explore this remarkable relic of the past.
