PS New Orleans

For the 1885 ship with the same name, see SS New Orleans.

History
United States
Name	New Orleans
Operator	Western Transportation Co.
Builder	Burton F. Goodson (Goodsell)
Launched	1844
Completed	1844
In service	1844
Out of service	1849
Fate	Wrecked in Lake Huron on June 13, 1849
Notes	Built on the bottom of the earlier steamer Vermillion (1838)
General characteristics
Type	Wooden sidewheel steamer
Tonnage	610  GRT
Length	185 ft 4 in (56.49 m)
Beam	26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
Draft	12 ft 10 in (3.91 m)
Depth	12 ft 10 in (3.91 m)
Decks	3
Installed power	Built by Buffalo Steam Engine Works
Propulsion	Sidewheel, crosshead engine
Capacity	Passengers and general freight
Notes	Originally built as Vermillion (1838); rebuilt and lengthened in 1844 as New Orleans

PS New Orleans was a wooden Great Lakes sidewheel steamer. It was originally built as Vermillion in 1838 and rebuilt and lengthened as the New Orleans in 1844 by Burton F. Goodson (also known as Goodsell) at Detroit, Michigan. She operated as a passenger and freight steamer for the Western Transportation Company until she stranded in fog and was wrecked on a reef in Lake Huron near Alpena on June 13, 1849. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Description

New Orleans measured approximately 185 feet 4 inches (56.49 m) in length, had a beam of 26 feet 8 inches (8.13 m), and a depth of 12 feet 10 inches (3.91 m). Her gross tonnage was 610 tons. ^[2] She was powered by a crosshead steam engine built by Buffalo Steam Engine Works, driving sidewheels. The vessel was originally built on the hull remains of the steamer Vermillion (1838), which had burned in 1842 and was rebuilt two years later as the New Orleans. ^[1]

History

The sidewheeler New Orleans entered service on May 2, 1844, operated by the Western Transportation Company out of Buffalo, New York. ^[2] She primarily carried passengers and general freight across the Great Lakes, serving routes between Buffalo, Detroit, and Chicago. Early records show her enrollment at Buffalo on September 13, 1844, and several incidents during her short career, including machinery damage on Lake Erie and groundings in the St. Clair Flats and Detroit River. ^[2]

Sinking

Before daylight on June 13, 1849, while northbound through Lake Huron, New Orleans ran aground in dense fog on a reef between North Point and Sugar Island, near Alpena, Michigan. ^{[1] [3]} Local fishermen rescued all passengers and crew, and much of her cargo was salvaged. The ship later broke apart in the surf and was declared a total loss. ^[2]

The wreck

The wreck of New Orleans lies in about 15 feet (4.6 m) of water at coordinates 45°02.579′N83°14.425′W / 45.042983°N 83.240417°W / 45.042983; -83.240417 . Large sections of the wooden hull remain preserved by the cold, clear waters of Lake Huron, making the site accessible to snorkelers, kayakers, and divers. ^[1] Today, the site is part of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, where it is a popular shallow-water exploration site. Portions of the hull and machinery are visible from the surface and glass-bottom boat tours. ^{[3] [4]}

See also

• List of shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

References

1. "New Orleans (1838)". Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
2. "New Orleans". Great Lakes Ships Database.
3. Lofton, Justine (June 14, 2025). "Passenger steamboat wrecked on a reef in 1849 rests under 15 feet of water". MLive.
4. "New Orleans Sidewheel Steamer". 3D Shipwrecks.