During a recent high-resolution sonar survey of the Fox River in Wisconsin, an unexpected discovery was made – the wreckage of a ship that had sunk over a century ago in the area. The Wisconsin Historical Society’s Maritime Preservation Program and the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association were conducting the survey to map potential cultural sites along a 2.5-mile stretch of the river. While examining the river bottom using advanced sonar technology, researchers came across the remains of a previously unidentified ship, in addition to the known wrecks of a steamer from 1870 and another ship surveyed in 2016.
The newly discovered wreck, believed to be that of the L.W. Crane, was found partially buried and measured approximately 90 feet long and 23 feet wide. The L.W. Crane was a wooden paddle wheel steamer built in Berlin, Wisconsin, in 1865, and used for transporting passengers and freight between Green Bay and Oconto. In 1880, the ship caught fire, sank in Oshkosh, and now lies across the river from where it was recently located.
Despite challenges posed by debris at the river bottom, ongoing investigations aim to uncover more details about the 1870 steamer wreck, the L.W. Crane, and other wrecks in the area. The discovery highlights the unpredictable nature of archaeology, where new findings can emerge unexpectedly during research efforts.
