Historic Third Ward in Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Carferry SS Milwaukee

Historic Shipwreck

— Wisconsin’s Maritime Trails —

Carferry SS Milwaukee Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul F, March 30, 2011

1. Carferry SS Milwaukee Marker

Inscription.

Carferry SS Milwaukee. Historic Shipwreck. , Type: railroad carferry, steel hull , Built: 1903, American Shipbuilding Co., Cleveland, Ohio , Sank: October 22, 1929 Lives Lost: 40-50 , Length: 388’ Beam: 56’ , Cargo: train cars (loaded), tubs, mixed freight, 3 automobiles , Propulsion: triple expansion steam engine, twin screw (propeller) , Depth of wreckage: 125’, The 338-foot railroad carferry SS Milwaukee was launched as the Manistique Marquette and Northern #1 in 1903. She was designed by the famed marine architect Robert Logan and built in Cleveland by the American Shipbuilding Company., Acquired by the Grand Trunk Railroad in 1908, the Milwaukee shuttled freight cars between her namesake city and Grand Haven, Mich. Shipping freight cars across Lake Michigan bypassed the chokepoint of Chicago, sparing railroads time and expense. Carferries were the only ships on the Great Lakes built to operate year-round, and their crews were admired by vessel operators the world over for their rugged efficiency., Powered by twin steam engines, the SS Milwaukee could carry 25 to 30 loaded boxcars in her cavernous hold. She served her owners faithfully until October 29, 1929, when she departed Milwaukee harbor into the teeth of a ferocious nor’easter. She and her crew of 40 to 50 never reached their destination. Five days later, a note washed ashore near Grand Haven, Mich.: , SS Milwaukee, October 29, 6:60 p.m. , “The ship is taking water fast. We have turned around and headed for Milwaukee. Pumps are working by sea gate is bent in and won’t keep the water out. Flicker is flooded. Seas are tremendous. Things look bad. Crew roll is about the same as last payday. , -A.R. Sadon, purser , The SS Milwaukee now rests in 125 feet of water four miles east of Whitefish Bay with her bow facing southwest, confirming the ship had turned back towards Milwaukee harbor, exposing her low stern to the worst of the “tremendous” sea reported in the purser’s note., Stripped of her upperworks, the wreck is a tangle of exploded deck gear, hull plates, and rail cars. The damaged sea gate (a four-foot highbarrier designed to prevent a following sea from swamping the cardeck) hangs wrenched from the stern, twisted in a crude “W” shape.

Type: railroad carferry, steel hull
Built: 1903, American Shipbuilding Co., Cleveland, Ohio
Sank: October 22, 1929 Lives Lost: 40-50
Length: 388’ Beam: 56’
Cargo: train cars (loaded), tubs, mixed freight, 3 automobiles
Propulsion: triple expansion steam engine, twin screw (propeller)
Depth of wreckage: 125’

The 338-foot railroad carferry SS Milwaukee was launched as the Manistique Marquette and Northern #1 in 1903. She was designed by the famed marine architect Robert Logan and built in Cleveland by the American Shipbuilding Company.

Acquired by the Grand Trunk Railroad in 1908, the Milwaukee shuttled freight cars between her namesake city and Grand Haven, Mich. Shipping freight cars across Lake Michigan bypassed the chokepoint of Chicago, sparing railroads time and expense. Carferries were the only ships on the Great Lakes built to operate year-round, and their crews were admired by vessel operators the world over for their rugged efficiency.

Powered by twin steam engines, the SS Milwaukee could carry 25 to 30 loaded boxcars in her cavernous hold. She served her owners faithfully until October 29, 1929, when she departed Milwaukee harbor into the teeth of a ferocious nor’easter. She and her crew of 40 to 50 never reached their destination. Five days later, a note washed

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ashore near Grand Haven, Mich.:
SS Milwaukee, October 29, 6:60 p.m.
“The ship is taking water fast. We have turned around and headed for Milwaukee. Pumps are working by sea gate is bent in and won’t keep the water out. Flicker is flooded. Seas are tremendous. Things look bad. Crew roll is about the same as last payday.
-A.R. Sadon, purser
The SS Milwaukee now rests in 125 feet of water four miles east of Whitefish Bay with her bow facing southwest, confirming the ship had turned back towards Milwaukee harbor, exposing her low stern to the worst of the “tremendous” sea reported in the purser’s note.

Stripped of her upperworks, the wreck is a tangle of exploded deck gear, hull plates, and rail cars. The damaged sea gate (a four-foot highbarrier designed to prevent a following sea from swamping the cardeck) hangs wrenched from the stern, twisted in a crude “W” shape.

Erected by Wisconsin Historical Society, University of Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lost at Sea, and the Wisconsin’s Maritime Trails series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1825.

Location. 43° 1.921′ N,

Photographed By Paul F, March 30, 2011

2. Carferry SS Milwaukee Marker

Close-up of text on main body of marker.

87° 53.884′ W. Marker is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in the Historic Third Ward. Marker can be reached from E Chicago Street, 0.1 miles North Harbor Drive. Marker is located along the lake shore inside Maier Festival Park grounds, east of the main entrance at the end of East Chicago Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Milwaukee WI 53202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lake Michigan Water Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Milwaukee's Changing Lakefront (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hansen Storage Co. Warehouse #2 (approx. 0.3 miles away); First Milwaukee Cargo Pier (approx. 0.4 miles away); Blessed Virgin of Pompeii Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); A.W. Rich Shoe Co. (approx. 0.4 miles away); Phoenix Knitting Co. Plant #4 (approx. 0.4 miles away); S. Heller Elevator Company (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.

Also see . . . Wisconsin Ship Wrecks. (Submitted on April 4, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin.)

Additional keywords. Shipwrecks

Carferry SS Milwaukee image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul F, March 30, 2011

3. Carferry SS Milwaukee

Photo in upper left hand corner of marker.

Capt. Robert McKay image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul F, March 30, 2011

4. Capt. Robert McKay

Believe he went down with his ship This is one of the last pictures taken of Capt. Robert (Bad Weather) McKay, who is believed to have perished with his ship, the carferry Milwaukee, which sank in the vicious storm which lashed Lake Michigan the forepart of this week. They said of Capt. McKay, “He never ran from a storm.”

Photographed By Paul F, March 30, 2011

5. Carferry SS Milwaukee Marker

Close-up of photos in lower right hand corner of marker.

Photographed By Paul F, March 30, 2011

6. Carferry SS Milwaukee Marker

Milwaukee lake front looking east.

Carferry SS Milwaukee Anchor image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul F, March 30, 2011

7. Carferry SS Milwaukee Anchor

located next to marker

Anchor Marker at base of anchor image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul F, March 30, 2011

8. Anchor Marker at base of anchor

Anchor from the carferry “Milwaukee” In one of the worst Lake Michigan tragedies in history, the “Milwaukee” sank with 59 crewmen aboard on October 22, 1929. This anchor was recovered by Roger Chapman in 1973 and donated to the City of Milwaukee.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 30, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,100 times since then and 59 times this year. Last updated on May 10, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on March 30, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.