Chock-full of history, the Rotarian was launched in 1889 as a proud product of the Sandusky, Ohio, shipbuilding industry. Measuring a commanding 147 feet in length with a 27-foot beam, she spent her early years serving faithfully as a passenger ship.
In the 1920s, the vessel was moved to Chicago, where she took on a wildly varied series of roles. Throughout the Roaring Twenties, the Rotarian served as a floating dance hall, a headquarters for the Cook County Democrats, and a covert bootlegging operation during Prohibition. Even the notorious gangster Al Capone was alleged to have entertained guests on board!
In 1931, the Rotarian sank at her dock. She was subsequently refloated, towed out into Lake Michigan, and intentionally scuttled. Today, she rests in 84 feet of water, making her the perfect wreck for intermediate divers to explore. Be sure to check out her boiler and massive propeller. You might even spot a few Prohibition-era beer bottles scattered around the site, just remember the golden rule of wreck diving: take only pictures and leave the artifacts exactly as you found them! We visit the Rotarian out of Hammond Marina.
