On August
8, 1903, the 118' Steamship Metropole met her third and final disaster
as she slide beneath the waters of Lake Huron, to become a part of Michigan
Great Lakes history.
David Trotter is a renowned shipwreck discoverer, deep diver, author, lecturer and photographer. In over 20 years of diving, he has been the first to locate, identify and document over 60 Great Lakes shipwrecks. His shipwreck discoveries and programs have been featured on television and in newspapers throughout the U.S. and Canada. He has written several articles on Great Lakes shipwrecks that have been published in historical journals and national scuba diving publications.
Through Undersea Research Associates, founded to present the
Great Lakes community with an electronically sophisticated means of underwater
search and survey for archeological and commercial purposes, he presents
visual underwater time capsules of marine history. Utilizing state-of-the-art
side scan sonar, with outstanding skilled operators, the organization offers
high resolution bottom profiling at depths to 1,000 feet, underwater site
survey and underwater photographic documentation.
On August
8, 1903, the 118' Steamship Metropole met her third and final disaster
as she slide beneath the waters of Lake Huron, to become a part of Michigan
Great Lakes history.
It was to be ninety-six years later a team of dedicated explorers were to discover a most unique time capsule....the intact Steamship Metropole. Her masts, wood pilot house, giant steering wheel, compass, anchors and cargo still in place. She appears ready to continue her voyage to deliver a cargo of barrel staves for a cooperage (barrel manufacturer) in Cleveland. The crew's initials carved in the wall planks, fire hoses ready for deployment, barrel staves stacked in place, shovels hanging from hooks, and the compass functioning 96 years later transports us into a working Steamer of the 19th century.
Share the adventure with us.....it doesn't get any better than this!
The 157' sidewheel Steamer Detroit steamed into history on May 25,
1854 when she collided with the Barque Nucleus on a foggy, cold morning.
The Nucleus, downbound, had only dealt a glancing blow to the starboard
side of the Detroit. Collision damage seemed minor, with some damage
to the railing in front of the starboard paddle wheel. The crew worked
furiously for several hours pumping out the bilge at a rate slower than
the water was coming in. Finally, word was given to abandon ship
and the Steamer Detroit disappeared 200' beneath the surface of Lake Huron.
She laid at rest for 140 years before a band of merry adventurers was to
discover her sitting upright with giant paddle wheels, engine and delicate
steering pole in place. Share the excitement as seen through the
eyes of the divers and explorers as we swim with events and history that
occurred six years before the American Civil War.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You may register for Shipwrecks/2000 by completing and mailing the REGISTRATION FORM. If you are unable to attend this year but would like your name added to the Shipwrecks Mailing List, please fill in and submit the Mailing List Form or for more information you may contact David Mekker at (905) 644-9389 (Hamilton) or Barbara Marshall (905) 382-2389 (Fort Erie)