AH-WR-0215

Maitland

Barque · Canada · Lost 1871 · The Straits of Mackinac

A grain-laden barque sunk in a night collision in the Straits of Mackinac in 1871, still substantially whole.

Become Captain of Record See Shipwreck on Map

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Historically Reconstructed. Drawn from partial documentation of this vessel together with her known class and configuration. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

The Maitland was a wooden three-masted barque built in 1861 and trading grain on the upper lakes. In June 1871 she was struck at night by another vessel while working through the Straits of Mackinac and sank. Her hull remains substantially intact within a Michigan underwater preserve and is a popular dive.

Vessel

Built: 1861
Builder: Not established
Yard: Not established
Material: Wood
Length: Not established
Beam: Not established
Tonnage: Not established
Propulsion: Sail, three masts
Owners: Not established

Loss

Date: June 11, 1871
Cause: Collision
Location: Straits of Mackinac, Michigan
Water: Lake Michigan
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: Corn
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: Not established
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: 80 to 90 feet
Condition: Hull largely intact with cargo and rigging remains.
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Within a Michigan underwater preserve.

Position

Coordinates: 45.79° N 84.78° W
Accuracy: Approximate position
Nearest: Mackinaw City, Michigan
Region: The Straits of Mackinac

Evidence

Overall confidence: Documented (75/100)

Casualty figures and the identity of the other vessel vary between accounts.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources underwater preserves
Wreck location, depth, condition, protection.
Great Lakes maritime histories
Vessel service and the collision.