Divers Find 156-Year-Old Shipwreck Frozen in Time

After searching 250 miles of Lake Erie's depths over ten years, the Cleveland Underwater Explorers finally found what they were looking for: a 125-foot sailing ship perfectly frozen in time.

The Clough sank on September 15, 1868, when a sudden wind gust tipped the vessel sideways. The heavy stone cargo slid across the deck, and water rushed in so quickly that the eight crew members couldn't save their ship.

For more than 150 years, the wreck sat undisturbed several miles northeast of Cleveland, waiting to tell its story. The Cleveland Underwater Explorers, working with the National Museum of the Great Lakes, dedicated themselves to finding it.

In June 2024, the team located a promising site. Tragically, founder David VanZandt died in a diving accident that same day while exploring the area.

The surviving team members chose to honor VanZandt by completing what he started. Through careful research and documentation, they confirmed the wreck's identity in February 2025.

What they found took their breath away. The cold waters of Lake Erie had preserved the ship remarkably well, creating what team director Tom Kowalczk calls a "time capsule."

The steering wheel still stands in place. Capstans and hatch covers remain intact. The original stone cargo that doomed the vessel still fills the deck. "It's like the entire boat is just sitting there," Kowalczk says.

The ship tells a uniquely American story. Built in 1867, it was named after quarry owner Baxter Clough, who built both the vessel and his own railroad line to avoid expensive shipping costs. The Clough transported stone from Ohio to Buffalo for just one year before tragedy struck.

Why This Inspires

This discovery represents more than finding an old shipwreck. It brings closure to a 156-year-old mystery and honors the eight crew members who lost their lives.

"There were a lot of people whose lives were affected by that shipwreck back in 1868," says Carrie Sowden, director of archaeology at the National Museum of the Great Lakes. Finding the wreck means "you are able to finish their story."

The team's dedication shows how modern explorers can recover lost chapters of history. More than 6,000 vessels sank in the Great Lakes between 1875 and 1975, claiming an estimated 30,000 lives. Each represents untold stories waiting beneath the waves.

By continuing VanZandt's work, the Cleveland Underwater Explorers proved that the quest for knowledge and understanding can outlast any individual. They turned tragedy into purpose, searching until they succeeded.

Now, the Clough rests in peace, no longer lost but found, its story finally complete.