Divers Identify 125-Foot Stone-Hauling Sailing Shipwreck 158 Years After It Sank In Lake Erie

The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) and Cleveland Underwater Explorers (CLUE) have confirmed the identity of a newly discovered shipwreck in Lake Erie as the bark Clough.

The announcement follows a detailed identification process and coincides with the opening of a temporary micro exhibit presenting the discovery to the public.

The vessel, built in Lorain, Ohio, in 1867, was a stone-hauling sailing ship owned by Baxter Clough, a quarry owner from Amherst, Ohio.

It sank on 15 September 1868, just a year after its launch, while transporting stone for Great Lakes commerce.

According to the museum, CLUE, with support from NMGL, has been working since 2001 to locate and identify shipwrecks in Lake Erie in an effort to preserve the region’s maritime heritage.

The identification of the Clough followed several site visits, the preparation of a detailed site map and extensive historical research, which together enabled the team to formally confirm the vessel.

The wreck site is also associated with the loss of CLUE founder David VanZandt in June 2024.

Following his death, both organisations committed to completing the identification process with care and accuracy. Through joint research and documentation, the vessel has now been positively identified.

The Clough measured 125 feet in length with a breadth of 26.5 feet. It was classified as a bark, meaning it was a three-masted vessel rigged with square sails on the foremast and schooner sails on the main and mizzen masts.

NMGL opened a temporary micro exhibit on 18 February at its Toledo facility.

Carrie Sowden, Director of Archaeology and Research at the National Museum of the Great Lakes, stated that the discovery represented an important part of Great Lakes maritime history and continued David VanZandt’s legacy. She added that the museum was honoured to work with CLUE to present the findings to the public.

References: nmgl

Source: Maritime Shipping News