Sea Gem
Schooner · United States · Lost 1901 · Chicago & Southern Lake Michigan
Sea Gem went to pieces south of Manitowoc’s harbor pier while seeking shelter in September 1901.
Become Captain of RecordSee Shipwreck on Map
The Vessel and Her Loss
Sea Gem was built at Manitowoc in 1863 as a wooden, two-masted schooner. She traded between Chicago, Milwaukee and Michigan ports. On September 9, 1901, carrying wood slabs from Charlevoix to Milwaukee, she sought shelter at Manitowoc. Her anchor failed to hold and she was driven onto the beach south of the harbor pier, where she soon went to pieces. All five aboard reached the pier and some cargo was saved.
Vessel
- 1863
- US registry no. 22582
- William Wallace Bates and Son
- Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Wood
- 90.6 ft
- 22.5 ft
- 103.21 gross tons
- Sail
- Not established
Loss
- September 9, 1901
- Grounding
- South of Manitowoc Harbor pier, Wisconsin
- Lake Michigan
- Charlevoix, Michigan → Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- 100 cords of wood slabs
- 5
- 0
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
Position
- 44.09° N 87.65° W
- Reported, unconfirmed
- Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Position converted from the institutional inventory’s published degrees and decimal minutes; survey accuracy is not independently established.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (80/100)
Exact position, present depth and surviving condition are not established in the reviewed sources.
Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Sea Grant — Wisconsin Shipwrecks
Construction, two-masted rig, dimensions, official identifier, trade, completed September 1901 loss, five survivors and published inventory position; later enrollment surrender distinguished.
