157-Year-Old Shipwreck Gets Stunning 3D Scan

The Northerner sat on the bottom of Lake Michigan for 157 years, holding onto a secret cargo. Now, thanks to cutting-edge technology, you can virtually dive down and explore this remarkably preserved time capsule yourself.

The 81-foot schooner sank on November 29, 1868, after its hull was badly damaged while loading cordwood near Cedar Grove, Wisconsin. All crew members were safely rescued, but the ship went down near Port Ulao, about 20 miles north of Milwaukee.

Built in 1850 by master shipbuilder John Oades, the Northerner spent years carrying supplies across Lake Ontario before moving to Lake Michigan to transport lumber. The vessel had been "pounding heavily upon the bottom" at a pier when it sprang a leak, according to an 1868 Milwaukee Sentinel report.

Today, the wreck rests upright in 135 feet of water, making it a favorite spot for recreational divers. In 2021, it became part of the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, joining roughly 600 other vessels that have sunk in Lake Michigan alone.

Last year, maritime archaeologists used a Saab Sabertooth robot equipped with high-tech imaging tools to capture 1,670 detailed photos of the wreck. They stitched these images together to create an incredibly detailed 3D model that anyone can explore online.

The scan revealed fascinating new details, including the ship's rigging lying 60 feet away from the main wreck. Most remarkably, the cordwood the Northerner was carrying on its final voyage is still visible in the ship's hold after more than a century and a half underwater.

The Ripple Effect

This project represents more than just cool technology. Researchers are racing against time to document Great Lakes shipwrecks before invasive quagga mussels destroy them forever.

The team tested their underwater robot on the relatively shallow Northerner before tackling deeper wrecks. "We know less about Lake Michigan than we thought we did," says Russ Green, superintendent of the sanctuary.

The same technology has brought other famous shipwrecks to life, including Ernest Shackleton's Endurance near Antarctica. Dozens of other Great Lakes wrecks now have 3D models available for virtual exploration.

In 2024, crews installed permanent mooring buoys at 19 popular wreck sites, including the Northerner, making them safer to dive while protecting the fragile lakebed from anchor damage.

History is being preserved one pixel at a time, ensuring these stories survive for generations to come.