Wreckage of 1892 Shipwreck Western Reserve Discovered in Lake Superior

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society located the steel freighter's remains after a two-year search, solving a 132-year-old mystery.

The Western Reserve, an all-steel cargo ship built in 1890 and nicknamed the 'inland greyhound,' sank during a storm in Lake Superior's Whitefish Bay on August 30, 1892.
The ship was carrying its owner, Captain Peter G. Minch, his family, and crew on a summer cruise; 27 of the 28 people aboard perished, with only one survivor, Harry W. Stewart.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society discovered the wreckage in July 2024, 60 miles northwest of Whitefish Point, using side-scan sonar and submersible drones to confirm its identity.
The ship, which broke in two during the storm, was located 600 feet below the lake's surface with its bow resting on the stern, marking one of the society's most significant finds.
The Western Reserve was considered a technological marvel of its time, designed for speed and safety, but its sinking highlights the unpredictable dangers of the Great Lakes.