Steamship Milwaukee Discovered Intact After 137 Years Under Lake Michigan

Explorers utilized old newspaper clippings and modern sonar technology to locate the 1886 shipwreck.

The Michigan Shipwreck Research Association (MSRA) announced the discovery of the steamship Milwaukee, lost in 1886 after colliding with another vessel.
Found near Holland, Michigan, the wreck is remarkably preserved, lying 360 feet below Lake Michigan's surface.
Utilizing side-scan sonar and a remotely operated vehicle, the MSRA confirmed the ship's identity after a two-day search.
The Milwaukee was originally commissioned in 1868 and repurposed over its service life, including carrying lumber for businessman Lyman Gates Mason.
The discovery underscores the importance of caution and adherence to navigational rules, as the crash resulted from both captains failing to slow down in fog.