Mackinaw City in Cheboygan County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Graveyard of the Deep
| | Mackinaw City Historical Pathway | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2017
1. Graveyard of the Deep Marker
The Griffin, the first ship on the Upper Great Lakes, disappeared on its maiden voyage in 1679. Since then the Lakes have swallowed over 10,000 vessels. Early wooden ships were often lost to on-board fires. Many others were destroyed by the Lakes large storm waves which are so sharp and closely spaced that a ship may not recover from one before another strikes.
The Steamer Minneapolis collided with an ice floe on April 4, 1894. She sank just west of the south tower of the Mackinac Bridge, but the crew escaped harm.
The Straits of Mackinac have claimed many a ship blown off course onto dangerous shoals submerged outside narrow shipping lanes. Fog, swift currents, and crushing winter ice also have taken their toll. In 1983 the Straits were designated a Michigan Bottomland Preserve to protect shipwrecks as historical and recreational resources.
The Cedarville is one of the more recent Straits wrecks and a popular target for divers. She sank in 1965 after colliding with a Norwegian freighter in dense fog, claiming 10 lives. Almost 600 feet long, she lies on her side 100 feet down.
Erected 2014 by
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lost at Sea series list.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 45° 47.232′ N, 84° 43.663′ W. Marker was in Mackinaw City, Michigan, in Cheboygan County. It could be reached from North Huron Street. Marker is located in Alexander Henry Park, on the shore of Lake Huron, along the Mackinaw City Historical Pathway, looking north toward Lake Huron. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Mackinaw City MI 49701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula, on the Straits of Mackinac, and in one of the Lake Huron Shore counties. It was also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it was in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2017
2. Graveyard of the Deep Marker (Steamer Minneapolis detail)
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Graveyard of the Deep (here, next to this marker); Building the Mighty Mac (here, next to this marker); Crossroads of the Great Lakes (within shouting distance of this marker); Shipwrecks in the Straits (within shouting distance of this marker); Alexander Henry Park Kiosk (within shouting distance of this marker); Alexander Henry 1739 - 1834 (within shouting distance of this marker); Michilimackinac State Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Radio Beacon 1937/1938 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mackinaw City.
Other markers no longer nearby. Building Mighty Mac (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Crossroads of the Great Lakes (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . .
1. Great Lakes Shipwrecks. Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum website homepage:
There are over 6,000 shipwrecks
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2017
3. Graveyard of the Deep Marker (Cedarville detail)
2. Steamer Minneapolis Shipwreck. Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve website entry:
The Minneapolis was a wood steamer built in Marine City MI in 1873, originally as a passenger ship but later converted to carry bulk cargo. She was to become another victim of early April ice. She, along with 19 other boats, made out of Chicago harbor on April fools day 1894. The William Barnum was among those 19 other boats and would sink the day before the Minneapolis would go down. (Submitted on August 18, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Cedarville Shipwreck. Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve website entry:
In the early morning of May 7, 1965, the Cedarville departed Port Calcite, near Rogers City, headed to Gary, IN with 14,411 tons of limestone with a crew of 35. As they neared the Straits of Mackinac, the fog thickened. Due to a lack
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2017
4. Graveyard of the Deep Marker (wide view looking north toward Mackinac Island)
Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 19, 2019
5. Graveyard of the Deep Marker
This marker is the one on the right.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 452 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 18, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 5. submitted on October 17, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
