Latest news with #WisconsinUnderwaterArcheologyAssociation
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Sunken treasure? Archeologists discover shipwreck while searching for another near Oshkosh
Archaeologists surveying a Wisconsin river believe they unexpectedly stumbled upon a ship that sank in 1880. Researchers with the Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association were conducting a sonar survey of the Fox River in Oshkosh this spring to map previously located shipwrecks, WHS said in a release on Facebook earlier this month. Instead, they came across a new shipwreck in the process, WHS said. "That's the excitement of archaeology, sometimes we find something new that we were not looking for," WHS said. Scans of the wreck revealed a partially buried hull approximately 90 feet long and 23 feet wide. Archaeologists believe the remains belong to the L.W. Crane, a steamer ship that was built in 1865 before burning in the Oshkosh river in 1880. More discoveries: Ghost ship found after 132 years in the murky depths of 'Shipwreck Coast' L.W. Crane was a wooden side wheel steamer built in 1865 in Berlin, Wisconsin, according to a bio from WHS. The ship was used to ferry passengers and freight between Green Bay and Oconto, Wisconsin. During the vessel's career, it ran on the Illinois River as well as the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers, according to the society. In summer 1880, the L.W. Crane caught on fire and burned to the water's edge at the St. Paul Railroad slip in Oshkosh, WHS said. The wreck is believed to have been discovered by researchers during a scan of the Fox River this spring, according to WHS. It was found directly opposite from where the St. Paul Railroad Slip was located, according to historical records. Research is ongoing to identify the wreck, but there is a "strong possibility" that it is the L.W. Crane, WHS said. Related: Wisconsin angler discovers one of the largest tugboats in Great Lakes history off Manitowoc Archaeologists were trying to map a different shipwreck, the Berlin City vessel, when they discovered what they believe to be remains of the L.W. Crane, WHS said. Berlin City was built in 1856 and was used for purposes similar to that of the L.W. Crane, including transporting passengers and freight between Berlin and Oshkosh, the society said. According to WHS, Berlin City was popular with tourists and described as "a tip top steamboat" with the ride aboard called "one of the pleasantest that can be taken." In 1870, Berlin City caught on fire and its remains sank in the Fox River, WHS said. Related: How many shipwrecks are in Lake Michigan, and what happens to them? According to Wisconsin Shipwrecks, more than 60 ships sank in inland waterways in Wisconsin. The Fox River is the site of nine shipwrecks and possibly more. Berlin City, 1856, a steam paddle Bob Teed, 1883, a tug E.P. Weston, 1863, a steam paddle L.W. Crane, 1865, a steam paddle Menasha, 1851, a steam paddle Minnie, 1865, a steam screw Satisfaction, 1894, a tug T.S. Chitterton, 1886, a steam paddle Union, 1865, a steam screw Three may be in Green Bay/Fox River: Belle Laurie, 1876, a schooner Flora Webster, 1871, a steam screw G.A.R., 1877, a tug Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oshkosh shipwreck found may be L.W. Crane sank in Fox River in 1880
Indianapolis Star
15-07-2025
- General
- Indianapolis Star
Archeologists find 1880 shipwreck while searching for a different one
Archeologists surveying a Wisconsin river believe they unexpectedly stumbled upon a ship that sank in 1880. Researchers with the Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association were conducting a sonar survey of the Fox River in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this spring to map previously located shipwrecks, WHS said in a release on Facebook July 3. Instead, they came across a new shipwreck in the process, WHS said. "That's the excitement of archaeology, sometimes we find something new that we were not looking for," WHS said. Scans of the wreck revealed a partially buried hull approximately 90 feet long and 23 feet wide. Archeologists believe the remains belong to the L.W. Crane, a steamer ship that was built in 1865 before burning in the Oshkosh river in 1880. More discoveries: Ghost ship found after 132 years in the murky depths of 'Shipwreck Coast' L.W. Crane was a wooden side wheel steamer built in 1865 in Berlin, Wisconsin, according to a bio from WHS. The ship was used to ferry passengers and freight between Green Bay and Oconto, Wisconsin. During the vessel's career, it ran on the Illinois River as well as the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers, per WHS. In the summer of 1880, the L.W. Crane caught on fire and burned to the water's edge at the St. Paul Railroad slip in Oshkosh, WHS said. The wreck is believed to have been discovered by researchers during a scan of the Fox River this spring, according to WHS. It was found directly opposite from where the St. Paul Railroad Slip was located, according to historical records. Research is ongoing to identify the wreck, but it is a "strong possibility" that it is the L.W. Crane, WHS said. Archeologists were trying to map a different shipwreck, the Berlin City vessel, when they discovered what they believe to be remains from the L.W. Crane shipwreck, WHS said. Berlin City was built in 1856 and was used for purposes similar to that of the L.W. Crane, including transporting passengers and freight between Berlin and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, per WHS. According to WHS, Berlin City was popular with tourists and described as "a tip top steamboat" with the ride aboard called "one of the pleasantest that can be taken." In 1870, Berlin City caught on fire and its remains sunk in the Fox River, WHS said.
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Archeologists find 1880 shipwreck while searching for a different one
Archeologists surveying a Wisconsin river believe they unexpectedly stumbled upon a ship that sank in 1880. Researchers with the Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association were conducting a sonar survey of the Fox River in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this spring to map previously located shipwrecks, WHS said in a release on Facebook July 3. Instead, they came across a new shipwreck in the process, WHS said. "That's the excitement of archaeology, sometimes we find something new that we were not looking for," WHS said. Scans of the wreck revealed a partially buried hull approximately 90 feet long and 23 feet wide. Archeologists believe the remains belong to the L.W. Crane, a steamer ship that was built in 1865 before burning in the Oshkosh river in 1880. More discoveries: Ghost ship found after 132 years in the murky depths of 'Shipwreck Coast' What happened to L.W. Crane? Archeologists think they found 1880 shipwreck L.W. Crane was a wooden side wheel steamer built in 1865 in Berlin, Wisconsin, according to a bio from WHS. The ship was used to ferry passengers and freight between Green Bay and Oconto, Wisconsin. During the vessel's career, it ran on the Illinois River as well as the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers, per WHS. In the summer of 1880, the L.W. Crane caught on fire and burned to the water's edge at the St. Paul Railroad slip in Oshkosh, WHS said. The wreck is believed to have been discovered by researchers during a scan of the Fox River this spring, according to WHS. It was found directly opposite from where the St. Paul Railroad Slip was located, according to historical records. Research is ongoing to identify the wreck, but it is a "strong possibility" that it is the L.W. Crane, WHS said. Crews were looking for Berlin City shipwreck Archeologists were trying to map a different shipwreck, the Berlin City vessel, when they discovered what they believe to be remains from the L.W. Crane shipwreck, WHS said. Berlin City was built in 1856 and was used for purposes similar to that of the L.W. Crane, including transporting passengers and freight between Berlin and Oshkosh, Wisconsin, per WHS. According to WHS, Berlin City was popular with tourists and described as "a tip top steamboat" with the ride aboard called "one of the pleasantest that can be taken." In 1870, Berlin City caught on fire and its remains sunk in the Fox River, WHS said. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fisherman discovers century-old Great Lakes shipwreck
The step-grandson of a famous Great Lakes shipwreck finder recently made his own historic discovery in Wisconsin—the long-lost remains of a tugboat deemed one of the largest and most powerful of its era. But unlike many other vessels sailing in the region at the time, the story of the J.C. Ames ended with an intentionally fiery grand finale. Earlier in the month, Christopher Thuss went out angler fishing on the foggy waters of Lake Michigan about 43 miles south of Green Bay near Manitowoc. Thuss noticed his onboard sonar observing a sizable object nearby, and after steering towards the location, he saw a ship's remnants barely nine feet below the water's surface. After Thuss reported it to the state's historical society, the organization reached out to the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association and orchestrated a dive to check out the mystery wreck. Wisconsin Historical Society maritime archeologist Tamara Thomsen matched the decaying wood hull with archival records. After 102 years resting in the shallow waters, experts had rediscovered what's left of the J.C. Ames. Built in 1881 by the Rand and Burger shipbuilding company for $50,000, the 670-horsepower tug initially named the J.C. Perrett was at the time one of the largest of its kind in the Great Lakes. The vessel was initially commissioned to haul lumber, and managed as many as five barges' worth of timber at once. In 1889, a steambarge struck Perrett and damaged its stem, requiring extensive repairs. A subsequent overhaul of the ship's boilers along with new owners six years later resulted in a name change to the J.C. Ames. In addition to lumber, the Ames also hauled railroad barges between Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois. The tug finally reached its retirement after over four decades of service. In 1923, the Ames set on its final voyage after being stripped of anything of value, including its replacement boilers and engine. As was customary at the time, the hull was towed out near the coast of Manitowoc and set aflame for onlookers to enjoy. It then sank a few feet to the bottom of Maritime Bay, where it has remained for over a century. While buried under sand for decades, it appears the lake currents only recently re-exposed the J.C. Ames. The hull portions currently sticking out from the sediment are only partially covered in quagga mussels—a destructive and invasive species of mollusks that have caused problems across the Great Lakes for the last 30 years. Quagga mussels can grow so dense on sunken aircraft and ship remains that they ultimately crush the surfaces beneath them. Discovering wrecks runs in Thuss' family. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society's announcement, the fisherman's step-grandmother is 'Shipwreck Suzze' Johnson. Johnson took up powered parachute and ultralight plane piloting after retirement, and made headlines for discovering three Lake Michigan shipwrecks in three days while flying over them in 2015.
