MARQUETTE (shipwreck)
5 mi. E. of Michigan Island, Lake Superior, La Pointe, WIBuilt in 1881 and originally named Republic, the Marquette was one of a transitional class of Great Lakes bulk freighters that began to employ innovative hull strengthening technologies to accommodate greater gross tonnage and longer hulls while preserving stability. The Marquette was lost under mysterious circumstances in October 1903 while hauling a cargo of iron ore out of Ashland, Wisconsin. The Lake was reportedly calm when the steamer began leaking with no obvious cause. Although she foundered rapidly, her entire crew was able to escape. She was one of six vessels to be lost by her owner, J.C. Gilchrist, in the 1903 season, prompting speculation that she may have been scuttled for financial reasons (Keller 1984). Bulk freighters are an important and enduring part of the Great Lakes' economy and history, having played a substantial role in the industrialization of America. They are the last remaining commercial vessel type still serving from the formative years of Great Lakes commerce. The Marquette gives us a rare glimpse back into the developmental years of this unique style of Great Lakes vessel that continues to play an important role in our economy and culture.
Local significance of the site:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.