Launched in 1894 from Benton Harbor, Michigan, the Tacoma was a 76-foot tugboat featuring an 18-foot beam and registering at 76 gross tons. For nearly 40 years, she served proudly on Lake Michigan as a dredge tug for the Fitzsimmons and Connell Dredge and Dock Company of Chicago. In fact, at the time of her loss, she was the oldest tug working in the Chicago area.
In November 1929, disaster struck just three-quarters of a mile from the 68th Street Crib. While towing two scows, the Tacoma sprang a massive leak. The captain had only minutes to respond, managing to sound a distress signal of four short horn blasts before the vessel slipped beneath the surface. The Coast Guard marked her position with a buoy later that day, but it was quickly determined that she was too old to justify the cost of salvaging.
Today, she rests in a shallow 28 to 35 feet of water. This is a perfect depth for novice divers looking to cut their teeth on wreck diving while exploring a fantastic piece of Great Lakes history. We visit the Tacoma out of Hammond Marina.
