Dunkirk Schooner Site

The Dunkirk Schooner Site is a submerged shipwreck in Lake Erie containing the remains of a wooden sailing vessel from the early 1800s. The wreck preserves a collection of objects that provide insight into how the ship operated and the maritime world of that period.

The ship was likely known as the Caledonia and served in the fur trade before British forces took control of it during the War of 1812. It sank before 1850 and has rested on the lake bottom since then.

The site holds personal belongings and navigation tools that reveal how people conducted trade and lived on the Great Lakes in the early 1800s. These artifacts tell the story of daily shipboard life and the practices that defined maritime commerce of that era.

The wreck lies deep underwater and is only accessible with specialized diving equipment and official permits. The water stays very cold year-round, which requires special preparation.

Analysis of human remains found in the cabin shows that the entire crew died when the ship went down. This makes the site a record of a tragic moment in maritime history.

Location: Dunkirk

GPS coordinates: 42.55000,-79.60000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:28