Wreckage of the F.J. King Found in Lake Michigan

News Summary

The wreckage of the F.J. King, a cargo schooner that sank in Lake Michigan in 1886, has been found off the shores of Bailey’s Harbor, Wisconsin. The discovery, confirmed by the Wisconsin Historical Society, resolves years of speculation about its location. Researcher Brendon Baillod led the search team, which used advanced sonar technology to identify the site. This significant find highlights the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes and raises awareness of preservation efforts due to invasive species threats.

Bailey’s Harbor, Wisconsin – Searchers have uncovered the wreckage of the F.J. King, a cargo schooner that sank in Lake Michigan nearly 140 years ago during a storm. This significant maritime discovery was announced by the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association, marking the resolution of a long-standing mystery.

The wreck was found on June 28 by a team led by researcher Brendon Baillod, off the shores of Bailey’s Harbor, a small town on Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula. The F.J. King was a 144-foot (43.89 meters) three-masted cargo schooner that was constructed in 1867 in Toledo, Ohio, primarily to transport grains and iron ore.

The F.J. King met its demise on September 15, 1886, while carrying a cargo of iron ore from Escanaba, Michigan, to Chicago. As it sailed off the Door Peninsula, the ship encountered a severe gale, with waves reaching heights of 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 meters). The force of the storm ruptured the seams of the vessel, causing it to take on significant water. After exhausting efforts to pump the water out, Captain William Griffin ordered the crew into the ship’s yawl boat.

Ultimately, the F.J. King sank bow-first into the depths of Lake Michigan around 2 a.m. on September 16. During the storm, the ship’s stern deckhouse was blown away, scattering Captain Griffin’s papers. Fortunately, the crew was rescued by a passing schooner, escaping the devastating fate of their ship.

Since the 1970s, search efforts had sought the F.J. King’s final resting place, complicated by conflicting accounts of the sinking location. Captain Griffin reported the ship sank five miles from Bailey’s Harbor, while a lighthouse keeper claimed to have seen the ship’s masts much closer to shore. This discrepancy hindered previous searches, as shipwreck hunters struggled to pinpoint the site’s location.

Brendon Baillod, through diligent research, established a 2-square-mile (5.17 square kilometers) search grid based on the lighthouse keeper’s account. Utilizing side-scan sonar technology, the team located an object approximately 140 feet long, situated less than half a mile from the initially reported location. Further investigation confirmed that the object was indeed the F.J. King.

Notably, the hull of the F.J. King appeared to be largely intact, contrary to expectations given the presence of the iron ore cargo, which could have caused extensive damage. This discovery indicates that the ship is in a better state than many experts had anticipated.

The Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association has made remarkable progress in shipwreck discoveries over recent years, with five wrecks found in just three years. Among these findings are the steamer L.W. Crane, the tugboat John Evenson, and the schooner Margaret A. Muir, all discovered in 2025. In 2023, Baillod also found the schooner Trinidad. Experts estimate that the Great Lakes may harbor between 6,000 to 10,000 undiscovered shipwrecks, highlighting the ongoing exploration potential.

As invasive species like quagga mussels threaten wrecks within the lakes, the urgency for shipwreck searches has increased. Evidence of quagga mussel infestation has been found on the F.J. King wreck site, emphasizing the need for timely research and preservation efforts.

Community historians and citizen scientists played a significant role in the search for the F.J. King, demonstrating collaborative efforts in uncovering maritime history. The F.J. King is set to be nominated for the National Register of Historic Places, with plans to make the wreck site accessible to divers and maritime history enthusiasts in the future.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• AP News: Lake Michigan Shipwreck Found
• Wikipedia: Shipwreck
• JSONline: Lake Michigan Shipwreck
• Google Search: F.J. King shipwreck
• Washington Post: Ghost Ship Discovered
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Great Lakes Shipwrecks
• MLive: Elusive Ghost Ship Found
• Google Scholar: Shipwrecks in Great Lakes
• Channel 3000: Archaeologists Find Shipwreck
• Google News: F.J. King Lake Michigan