GreatLakesShipwreckMuseum

Lost in the Site of Salvation: The Shipwreck of the Atlanta On May 4th, 1891, the schooner-barge Atlanta broke its tow in a powerful spring storm on Lake Superior. After hours of battling the gales, they had to abandon ship. This premiere of this mini documentary will explain what happened to the crew of 7 that day and how a letter from one of the crewmen describes how close to death he was. Then, we’ll take you 650 feet below the surface of Superior to take a look at the Atlanta, a vessel that hasn’t been seen in over 130 years.

Anchor Hooks, then Sinks, Whaleback Vessel Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society discovers Barge 129, nearly 120 years after accident FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, October 12th, 2022 WHITEFISH POINT, MICH.- The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) is proud to announce the discovery of the 292-foot Whaleback vessel, Barge 129. Barge 129 was found in Lake Superior, 35 miles off Vermilion Point in 650 feet of water. Barge 129 was found along with 8 other wrecks in 2021 by the GLSHS in partnership with Marine Sonic Technology using Side Scan Sonar. Side Scan Sonar - Marine Sonic Technology Barge 129 sank on October 13th, 1902. 120 year s-ago near the day of this press release. Barge 129 was in tow of the steamer Maunaloa, downbound with a load of iron ore, when they ran into a powerful October storm. The heavy seas strained, and eventually snapped the towline connecting the two ships. Barge 129 was then at the mercy of the storm. Maunaloa turned around in an attempt to reconnect the towline, but the wind and waves slammed the two ships together, with Maunaloa’s port side anchor ripping into Barge 129’s starboard side. As the barge began to sink, Captain Josiah Bailey and his crew moved quickly and struggled to launch their lifeboat. The crew of Maunaloa stood by, and eventually helped the Barge 129 crew onto their ship...just as the whaleback dove to the bottom of Lake Superior. GLSHS Director of Marine Operations Darryl Ertel Jr., reflected on the discovery. “I’ve looked for this ship for so long because it was a Whaleback. I was pretty excited. I couldn't wait to get the cameras on it”. When the Shipwreck Society put their ROV down on the wreck-site this past summer, they were surprised by the devastation of the ship. “It's totally destroyed on the bottom. It's nowhere near intact. It's at least 4 to 5 big pieces and thousands of little pieces. It's just disintegrated” Ertel said. “The whalebacks were pretty unusual ships.” stated Shipwreck Society Executive Director Bruce Lynn. “When we had the ROV on it, you could clearly see the distinctive bow with a part of the towline still in place…that was an incredible moment! shipwreckmuseum.com The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society was founded in 1978 by a group of divers, teachers, and educators to commence exploration of historic shipwrecks in eastern Lake Superior, near Whitefish Point in Michigan’s scenic Upper Peninsula. Today, this non-profit organization operates two museum sites on historic properties: The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Point Light Station, Whitefish Point; and the U.S. Weather Bureau Building, Soo Locks Park, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. The Shipwreck Museum is open to the public seasonally from May 1 to October 31. For more information visit shipwreckmuseum.com ###

Not everything goes as planned. Learn some of the “odd” things that happened during the launch of the Fitzgerald in 1958 in this short story! (video includes musical score)

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Societies research vessel R.V. David Boyd making its way to Whitefish Point for the beginning of another shipwreck hunting season!

Part of the wonder of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.

"Regulations say, you have to go out, but say nothing about coming back". This is a short story about the U.S. Life Saving Service along the Shipwreck Coast of Lake Superior.

WHITEFISH POINT, MICH. - The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) is excited to announce the discovery of the 172-foot schooner-barge Atlanta. The Atlanta was found 35 miles off Deer Park, Mich., in 650 feet of water in Lake Superior. Shipwreck hunting can be tedious. More than 2,500 miles of Lake Superior were mapped in the summer of 2021 by Marine Sonic Technology in partnership with the GLSHS using Side Scan Sonar - Marine Sonic Technology. The Atlanta sank on May 4, 1891. It was upbound with a load of coal in tow of the steamer Wilhelm when both vessels got caught in a northwest gale. The storm was too much for the towline which snapped, and with no sails, the Atlanta was soon at the mercy of the lake, and the crew took to the lifeboat. They pulled at the oars for several hours and eventually came within site of the Crisp Point Life-Saving Station. While attempting to land their small boat near the station, it overturned and only two of the crew made it safely to the beach. Because of its time in the frigid depths of Lake Superior, the Atlanta is a wonderfully preserved shipwreck. "It is rare that we find a shipwreck that so clearly announces what it is and the name-board of the Atlanta really stands out,” said Bruce Lynn, Executive Director of the GLSHS. “It is truly ornate, and still beautiful after 130 years on the bottom of Lake Superior." Director of Marine Operations, Darryl Ertel for the GLSHS said. “No one has to ask where the Atlanta is anymore.” The survivors said all three masts broke off during the storm, and video from an ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) proves, all three masts broke off flush with the deck and are nowhere to be found.

This is the last interview of Capt. Bernie Cooper of the Arthur M. Anderson conducted by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society before he passed in 1993. The Anderson was 10 miles behind the Fitzgerald in the teeth of Lake Superior during that fateful night of November 10th, 1975 when all 29 men went down with the ship. Hear a first hand account of what it was like that night and Capt. Cooper's theories on what may have happened to the Edmund Fitzgerald,

Rare radio chatter between the Arthur M. Anderson and the Coast Guard November 10th, 1975. The last time anyone ever heard from the Edmund Fitzgerald.