Sheboygan in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Phoenix Tragedy

1847

The <i>Phoenix </i>Tragedy Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, June 19, 2010

1. The Phoenix Tragedy Marker

Inscription. On November 21, 1847, one of the most tragic shipwrecks in Great Lakes' history occurred five miles off Lake Michigan's shore within sight of this location. The steamship Phoenix carrying over 225 passengers, including 175 Dutch immigrants intending to settle in the Sheboygan area, burned to the water line after a fire broke out on board. Fewer than 45 passengers and crew survived the tragedy.

Erected 1999 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 428.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Immigration • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lost at Sea, and the Wisconsin Historical Society series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is November 21, 1847.

Location. 43° 45.859′ N, 87° 41.754′ W. Marker is in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in Sheboygan County. It is on Broughton Drive 0.2 miles east of Barrett Street. Marker is along Lake Michigan at North Point Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sheboygan WI 53081, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Wisconsin’s Fox River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Schooner Gallinipper (within shouting distance of this marker); North Point / Sheboygan Point (about 300 feet away,

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measured in a direct line); Bustling Shipyards (approx. ¾ mile away); Heroic Seamen (approx. ¾ mile away); The Remains of the Lottie Cooper (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Remains of a Massive Lumber Schooner (approx. 0.9 miles away); Fiery Passage (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Home Fleet (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sheboygan.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This is a list of markers regarding Wisconsin Dutch settlers.

Additional keywords. The Phoenix Tragedy

The Phoenix Horror Of 1847 image. Click for more information.

via True Stories Of Ships And The Men That Sailed Them, unknown

2. The Phoenix Horror Of 1847

Photographed by Keith L, June 19, 2010

3. The Phoenix Tragedy Marker

Photographed by Keith L, June 19, 2010

4. The Phoenix Tragedy Marker

Photographed by Keith L, June 19, 2010

5. The Phoenix Tragedy Marker

The marker is in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,119 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 24, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on December 8, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 24, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.