St. Ignace in Mackinac County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Watery Graveyard
Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 18, 2019
1. Watery Graveyard Marker
The Great Lakes have swallowed up over 10,000 ships since the first trading ship was lost in 1679. Storm waves on the lakes are sharper than the roll and swell of ocean waves; a ship may not recover before being struck by another wave.
Lake ships must stay on course in the teeth of a gale to avoid the dangerous shoals that lie submerged outside shipping lanes. The narrow Straits of Mackinac have claimed many ships with swift currents and deadly waves.
The Straits were made a State Bottomland Preserve in 1983 to protect wrecks as an historical resource and a recreational paradise for divers.
The Cedarville is the latest shipwreck in the Preserve and a popular attraction for divers. She sank, losing 10 lives, after colliding with a Norwegian freighter during a dense fog in 1965. Nearly 600 feet long, she lies on her side in 100 feet of water with her hull rising to within 35 feet of the surface.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1679.
Location. 45° 52.21′ N,
2. Watery Graveyard Marker - left image
Wreck of the Cedarville
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Commercial Fishing (here, next to this marker); Old Mill Slip (a few steps from this marker); Two Cultures Meet (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort de Buade (about 500 feet away); Structures of Local Native Americans in the 1600's (about 500 feet away); What's in the Water? (about 500 feet away); Native American Land Losses (about 600 feet away); Voyage of Exploration (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Ignace.
Also see . . . Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve. Wikipedia article that includes names and locations of shipwrecks within the preserve. (Submitted on September 15, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
August 18, 2019
3. Watery Graveyard Marker - right image
Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 18, 2019
4. Watery Graveyard Marker
This marker is on the left.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 15, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
