Discovery of Historic Tugboat in Lake Michigan

A tugboat wreck has recently surfaced in Lake Michigan, much to the surprise of local officials. Fisherman Christopher Tous found the boat sitting about nine feet underwater near the Manitowoc coastline, a surprising discovery on a foggy day.

The Wisconsin Historical Society officially announced the find on May 16. This tugboat, known as JCAmes, was constructed in 1881 for the timber industry and was intentionally sunk in 1923.

“It’s always exciting when lost history resurfaces,” remarked Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist with the Wisconsin Historical Society. “It’s remarkable that it came back onto our radar after being submerged for over a century.”

Thomsen expressed her appreciation for Tous’s keen observation, noting how fortunate it is to share such significant history with the community.

Building the JC Ames cost around $50,000 back in the day, and it was considered one of the largest and most powerful tugboats on the lake. Although it faced damage in a collision in 1889, the boat was repaired multiple times over the years before being discarded.

Thomsen also explained that, by the time it was sunk, the tugboat’s operational life had been extended to its fullest. “Abandonment of ships that had served their purpose was a common practice,” she noted, adding that when it was sunk, the engine and boiler were removed and burned, marking the end of its service.

Interestingly, Thomsen recalled that onlookers would often gather to watch the ship burning during its demolition, saying, “They set them on fire, and people came out to see.”

The region near Manitowoc has about 13 ships abandoned in the bay, with only a few being rediscovered. “It’s really a matter of timing; you need the right conditions, like storms revealing them, plus a keen observer,” she explained.

A large propeller, approximately 10.5 feet in diameter, remains at the wreck site, along with a few smaller artifacts. Strangely enough, Tous’s step-grandmother is known for her knack for finding shipwrecks, adding a fun twist to this discovery.

Last May, the Wisconsin Historical Society identified other ancient treasures, including 11 canoes on Lake Madison, with one dating back to 2500 BC. They also announced the discovery of another tugboat, built in 1884, found later in the same year in Lake Michigan.