AH-WR-1649

Portsmouth

Propeller Steamer · Lost 1867 · Thunder Bay & Lake Huron

Portsmouth — Ran aground at Middle Island in a November storm and became encased in ice.

Become Captain of Record See Shipwreck on Map

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents.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

Interpretive Reconstruction, drawn to convey the vessel's era, type and general form. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

Portsmouth was built at Buffalo in 1853 by Bidwell and Banta. The propeller steamer carried 418 tons of pig iron. It grounded at Middle Island during a storm on November 15, 1867. Owners recovered nearly all cargo and machinery the following June.

Vessel

Built: 1853
Builder: Bidwell and Banta
Yard: Buffalo, New York
Material: Not established
Length: 183 ft
Beam: 27 ft
Tonnage: 674 gross tons
Propulsion: Steam, propeller
Owners: Not established

Loss

Date: November 15, 1867
Cause: Grounding
Location: Middle Island, Michigan
Water: Lake Huron
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: 418 tons of pig iron
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: Not established
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: 8 ft
Condition: Stern, keelson section, engine mounts and inner and outer hull planking remain.
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Within Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Position

Coordinates: 45.198° N 83.334° W
Accuracy: Surveyed position
Nearest: Middle Island, Michigan
Region: Thunder Bay & Lake Huron

NOAA published GPS: N45°11.870' W83°20.030'. Converted to decimal degrees; represents wreck position, including relocation where documented.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Well documented (90/100)

Ownership, unverified configuration details, numerical casualty total remain unknown. Illustrations are interpretive reconstructions.

NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary — Portsmouth
Construction, vessel type, beam, gross tonnage, dated loss, cargo, published GPS, depth and historical account. No casualty total adopted.