Buzz
A diver inspects the Wells Burt, one of Chicago’s most renowned wrecks beneath the waves.
In the late 1800s, Chicago became one of the world’s busiest shipping ports, drawing over 2,000 lumber-laden vessels annually. The unpredictable weather of the Great Lakes further amplified the frequency of shipwrecks. Altogether, more than 6,000 ships and 30,000 sailors have been lost along the Third Coast. According to Keith Pearson, captain at Double Action Dive Charters, about 300 of these wrecks lie off the shores of Chicago, with only around 50 discovered so far.
“A significant portion of [the city’s] history is submerged,” remarked Dean Nolan, president of the Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago, an organization dedicated to preserving the region’s shipwreck heritage, in an interview with mental_floss.
This often-overlooked chapter of Chicago’s history reveals that, for many decades, the Great Lakes acted as a vital highway—transporting lumber to rebuild after the Great Chicago Fire and providing refuge to immigrants seeking better lives.
“We’ve overlooked this part of our history here in Chicago,” says Jim Gentile, owner of Windy City Diving, in an interview with mental_floss. “But the city wouldn’t be here without its maritime heritage. We’re famous as a railroad hub, but the first railroad engine actually arrived here by boat.”
Fortunately, you can witness that history up close along Chicago’s coastline. Over a dozen shipwrecks are active dive sites in Lake Michigan, preserved by the frigid freshwater, limited marine growth, and minimal human disturbance.
“A diver exploring Great Lakes shipwrecks is in a league of his own,” says Pearson in a conversation with mental_floss. “There are very few in the diving community overall.” This is partly due to the challenges: Winter weather and storms shorten the diving season in Chicago. The harbors are accessible from late April to October, with most divers heading out in mid-summer when it’s warmer. However, Gentile recommends diving earlier in the season—visibility diminishes as the year progresses due to the rise in plankton.
So grab your dive gear and head for the lake—here are some of the top shipwrecks near Chicago.
1. THE OLDEST: THE WINGS OF THE WIND
While numerous ancient shipwrecks lie waiting to be uncovered in Lake Michigan, Wings of the Wind remains the oldest discovered so far. The ship sank in 1866 after a dramatic early morning collision with a larger vessel, the H.P. Baldwin. Despite sustaining only minor damage, the Baldwin continued on its course. The Wings of the Wind, however, flooded rapidly and began to sink. The crew escaped to a yawl boat, rowed a short distance, and began calling for help. The Baldwin returned and rescued them. The wreck now rests about a mile northeast of North Avenue Beach.
Much of the wreck was looted when divers rediscovered it in 1987, but the ship still offers a remarkable dive experience. Divers can view much of the wreck intact while gaining a rare glimpse into the marine architecture of the mid-1800s.
2. THE MOST RENOWNED: THE WELLS BURT
Located three miles off Evanston, just north of Chicago, the Wells Burt rests 40 feet below the surface. The ship sank during a violent storm in 1883, one so fierce that wave spray reached 100 feet on the nearby shoreline. After its steering mechanisms failed and the mizzenmast tore free, the vessel went down with all 11 crew members. The ship’s owner sent divers to salvage what they could, but the hull remains untouched on the lake floor for over a century.
The wreck, which remains fully intact, was rediscovered by a group of divers in the late 1980s. Pearson was part of that team. He notes that the Wells Burt reshaped how divers approach shipwrecks: Now, they’re regarded “not as a pile of debris to scavenge, but as a complete testament to a real story waiting to emerge from the pages of history.”
3. THE MOST VISITED: THE STRAITS OF MACKINAC
While not a naturally occurring wreck, the Straits of Mackinac stands out as one of Chicago’s top dive spots. During peak season, it attracts divers almost every weekend. Located just northeast of Navy Pier, it lies 82 feet below the surface. Originally a car ferry, it transported passengers from the Upper Peninsula to lower Michigan before the Mackinac Bridge was built. Gentile purchased the vessel at auction for $1, saving it from being scrapped. Now, it serves as a well-preserved dive site, around 80 feet down, where divers can even explore the interior of the ship. It's also a popular fishing location—salmon seek refuge there.
“Chicago’s waters are relatively shallow compared to the rest of the lake,” Gentile explains. “The shipwrecks here are often flattened by the force of the waves. The artificial wrecks were purposely sunk to offer divers something new to explore, and they’ve become a good fishing spot too.”
4. THE MOST INTRIGUING: THE THOMAS HUME
In 1891, the Thomas Hume vanished without a trace from Lake Michigan. It was on a return trip from Chicago to Muskegon after unloading a lumber shipment when a storm struck. The Rouse Simmons, traveling with it, safely returned to Chicago. However, the Hume pressed on and was never seen again. No wreckage was found after the storm, and the crew disappeared with the ship. The owners posted a reward for the ship’s discovery, but it was never claimed. The mystery sparked various rumors—some suggested the crew mutinied and repainted the ship, while others speculated the vessel had fallen victim to the Michigan Triangle, a Midwest version of the Bermuda Triangle.
In 2006, recovery diver Taras Lyssenko uncovered the truth when he found a nearly intact ship 22 miles offshore and around 150 feet beneath the surface. Once discovered, the Thomas Hume proved to be a perfect snapshot of late 1800s maritime life. “It’s the best wreck in the Chicagoland area because it holds so many artifacts and historical remnants,” Gentile shares. “There were tools, plates, and even shoes.”
All images courtesy of Windy City Diving
