Lake Michigan shipwreck found after 139 years, with citizen scientists joining in moment

BAILEYS HARBOR — In another sign that Wisconsin maritime historians are in a golden period of discovery, a wooden schooner hidden beneath the depths of Lake Michigan for nearly 140 years has been found — with citizen scientists on board to share the excitement.

Many maritime historians and shipwreck hunters had searched for the 144-foot, three-masted F.J. King over the years. The leaders of a group that went searching for it at the end of June were dumbfounded when the King suddenly appeared on sonar, said Brendon Baillod, president of the Wisconsin Underwater Archeological Association. Baillod and Bob Jaeck, also with the Underwater Archeological Association, led the effort to find the King off Baileys Harbor.

It “was hidden in plain sight, right where it was supposed to be,” Baillod said.

Provided by Tamara Thomsen, Wisconsin Historical Society via Reuters Connect

While the discovery is noteworthy on its own, it also was the first time citizen scientists and community historians from around the Midwest were able to participate in looking for a historic wreck. The Underwater Archeological Association took out more than a dozen people — including me — over the course of two days to see firsthand what it’s like to locate a shipwreck.

In addition to the excitement, Baillod said, the event gave members of the public a chance to come together and experience the draw of Great Lakes maritime history.

The King was built in Toledo, Ohio, in 1867 and originally owned by William Griffin and J.S. Dunham. It took about 20 acres of white oak forest to build it, Baillod said.

On Sept. 15, 1886, while carrying 600 tons of iron ore from Escanaba, Michigan, to Chicago, the King battled a strong southeast wind off Door Peninsula. Pounding, 10 foot waves caused the King’s aging wooden seams to open. Water poured in too fast for the crew to pump it out, and the ship’s captain ordered the men into the yawl boat.

Around 2 a.m. on Sept. 16, the crew saw the King’s stern suddenly rise high into the air, sending the load of iron ore crashing forward with such force it blew the deckhouse off. The crew watched as the captain’s papers were hurled 50 feet into the air.

The King went down bow first, disappearing into a 137-foot-deep grave. The passing schooner La Petite picked up all eight crew members and took them to Baileys Harbor.

A few weeks later, the Cana Island Lighthouse keeper reported seeing the masts of the King protruding from the water in the shipping lane — an important clue regarding where the King lay hidden because the ship’s captain had reported that it went down much farther out.

For Kevin McConnaughay, one of the participants of the expedition, it was his first time out on a boat in the Great Lakes. From seeing the wreck show up on the screen and seeing the lighthouse in the distance, McConnaughay really felt like he was a part of the King’s story.

“I have a new hobby now,” he said.

F.J. King sits upright on the lakebed

What’s especially remarkable is the F.J. King is intact and sitting upright, the top reaching around 20 feet off the lakebed. Often, ships carrying such a heavy load shatter into pieces when they hit bottom, Baillod said.

The wreck is the last to have a standing $1,000 reward from Neptune’s Dive Club of Green Bay. The reward, Baillod said, will be used for future citizen science projects.

It can take years of researching historical data before Baillod and Jaeck are comfortable going out and looking for a shipwreck, Jaeck said. That’s one of the many reasons why finding a wreck is so exciting, Jaeck said — it validates years of hard work.

While Baillod and Jaeck have a strong track record of finding shipwrecks — the Margaret A. Muir and John Evenson in 2024 were theirs — they weren’t entirely confident they’d find the King during the public search. They ventured out earlier in the spring to search, but dangerous conditions forced them back.

McConnaughay said the experience opened his eyes to how much work it takes to find a shipwreck.

“They must spend so much time buried in archives piecing together accounts,” he said.

‘Now it can come back to life’

After a wreck is found in Wisconsin and reported to the state historical society, the state surveys the site, takes photos and creates a 3D model. After the wreck site is properly surveyed, the coordinates are released so people can dive to explore it. The plan is to nominate the King for the National Register of Historic Places.

The Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association plans to do more community-involved searches for historic underwater remains.

Finding a wreck is an opportunity to tell its story and connect people with Great Lakes maritime history, Baillod said.

“It’s the last tangible way we can do that.”

Beyond that, shipwrecks are the time capsules of Great Lakes, said Wisconsin Underwater Archeological Association Member Kevin Cullen.

“We found a piece of history that has been written about and forgotten,” Cullen said. “And now it can come back to life.”

Caitlin Looby covers the Great Lakes and the environment for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach her at [email protected], and follow her on X @caitlooby.

Caitlin’s work is supported by the Brico Fund, Fund for Lake Michigan, Barbara K. Frank, and individual contributions. Grants and donations help make this reporting possible. The Journal Sentinel maintains full editorial control.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Lake Michigan shipwreck found after 139 years, with citizen scientists joining in moment

Reporting by Caitlin Looby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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