A proud product of the 19th-century Buffalo shipbuilding industry, the Louisville was launched in 1853, measuring 137 feet in length. Working as a liner for Northern Transportation, the ship caught fire in 1857 during a short voyage from St. Joseph, Michigan, to Chicago.
The flames spread rapidly, forcing a fast evacuation by the captain and crew. Miraculously, only one crew member was lost in the disaster—a fireman who tragically perished when his lifeboat capsized. After only four short years of service on the lakes, the Louisville burned to the waterline and sank as a total loss.
Today, resting in 60 feet of water, her remains offer a fantastic site for intermediate divers. She is the perfect wreck for those looking to get a little more experience under their weight belts. We visit the Louisville out of Hammond Marina.
