HOLLAND, Mich. — Divers who found the wrecked steamship Milwaukee off the Lake Michigan port of Holland unveiled details of their discovery at the Knickerbocker Theater annual film festival. The ship, which sank in 1886, was in remarkable shape, said Valerie Van Heest of the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association. It was 350 feet deep 40 miles off Holland. The 135-foot vessel had been rammed by another ship on a calm night. Smoke from Wisconsin wild fires was limiting visibility somewhat. The entire crew survived. The wreck was discovered last June using side-scan sonar, Van Heest said. Her team spent the summer filming the wreck with remotely operated cameras.
Steamship Milwaukee. Built as combination passenger-cargo vessel. At some point during its 18-year career the upper decks were removed for conversion to cargo-only. Mostly carried lumber.