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Fox News
20-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Fisherman stumbles upon historic shipwreck hidden in plain sight: 'So exciting'
Print Close By Andrea Margolis Published May 20, 2025 A long-lost shipwreck sitting in the waters of Lake Michigan was recently discovered by a fisherman – to the surprise of local officials. The Wisconsin Historical Society announced the discovery on May 16. The tugboat, which was called the J.C. Ames, was built for the lumber trade in 1881. It was intentionally sunk in 1923. The angler, Christopher Thuss, discovered the ship on a foggy day near the coast of Manitowoc, where it was sitting nine feet below the lake's surface. After spotting the shipwreck, he reported the find to officials. ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVER CENTURIES-OLD SHIPWRECK BENEATH HISTORIC CITY: 'UNIQUE SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE' "These kinds of discoveries are always so exciting because it allows a piece of lost history to resurface," Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist at the Wisconsin Historical Society, said in a statement. "It sat there for over 100 years and then came back on our radar completely by chance." Thomsen added, "We are grateful that Chris Thuss noticed the wreck and reported it so we can share this story with the Wisconsin communities that this history belongs to." The J.C. Ames cost $50,000 to build. It was "one of the largest and most powerful tugs on the lakes," according to officials. It was damaged in a collision in 1889, but was repaired and changed owners several times before it was discarded. ARCHAEOLOGIST SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON ASTONISHING DISCOVERY OF WRECKED SLAVE SHIPS: 'STRANDED ON THE COAST' Thomsen told Fox News Digital the ship had "outlived its usefulness" by the time that it was intentionally sunk. "Abandoning ships that had outlived their use was how it was done back in the day." "[The ship] was dismantled at Manitowoc with its engine/boiler removed, towed outside the harbor, burned and abandoned in 1923," the historian explained. She added, "Abandoning ships that had outlived their use was how it was done back in the day." Thomsen also noted that it became somewhat of a spectacle for the ships to be set on fire while they were dismantled. "They set fire to them and people came out to watch," the expert said. For more Lifestyle articles, visit Thomsen also estimates that 13 ships were abandoned in the Maritime Bay near Manitowoc. Divers have only been able to locate three, but they're still keeping their eyes peeled for them. "We only find them when they are uncovered by storms if someone sees them before they are covered again – it needs to be perfect timing," she said. The maritime archaeologist also noted that a large propeller, measuring 10.5 feet in diameter, still sits at the shipwreck site. Other than that, only small artifacts were found. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER The find is especially remarkable because Thuss's step-grandmother garnered a reputation for finding shipwrecks herself, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. "'Shipwreck Suzze' Johnson, who took up the hobbies of operating a powered parachute and ultralight plane as a retiree, has incredibly discovered a variety of shipwrecks from the air in the recent past, including three shipwrecks in three days in Lake Michigan in 2015," the historical organization said. Last May, the Wisconsin Historical Society identified 11 ancient canoes in a Madison lake, including one boat that dated back to 2500 B.C. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Later that year, the organization announced the discovery of the John Evenson, a tugboat built in 1884 that was also discovered in Lake Michigan. Print Close URL
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wisconsin angler finds 102-year-old shipwreck on Lake Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Historians in Wisconsin say an angler helped uncover a tugboat that sunk in 1923 on Lake Michigan. The Wisconsin Historical Society says the has been found north of the breakwater in Manitowoc, less than 10 feet below the water's surface. 132-year-old shipwreck discovered in Lake Superior 'These kinds of discoveries are always so exciting because it allows a piece of lost history to resurface,' WHS maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen . 'It sat there for over a hundred years and then came back on our radar completely by chance.' The ship was found by Christopher Thuss, the step-grandson of 'Shipwreck Suzze' Johnson. According to the WHS, Johnson hunted shipwrecks as a hobby, using light aircraft and even a powered parachute. In 2015, she reportedly discovered three different shipwrecks in three days on Lake Michigan. Sign up for the Storm Team 8 daily forecast newsletter According to , there were very few quagga mussels clinging to the ship, telling investigators that it was likely buried under sand for a long time and was only recently exposed by shifting sands. The J.C. Ames was built in 1881. The 160-foot wooden tugboat was designed to transport lumber but ultimately hauled several types of cargo, including railcars. It was eventually dismantled and intentionally sunk in 1923, the common practice of the time. The J.C. Ames is located within the boundary of the . Because of its depth and location, the WHS expects it will become a popular place for kayakers and snorkelers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
18-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Angler fishing in Lake Michigan uncovers remains of century-old sunken tugboat
MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin angler fishing in the fog this week discovered the wreck of an abandoned tugboat submerged in the waters of Lake Michigan for more than a century, state officials announced Friday. Wisconsin Historical Society Maritime Archaeologist Tamara Thomsen said that the society confirmed that Christopher Thuss found the wreck of the J.C. Ames. Thuss was fishing in Lake Michigan off the city of Manitowoc in foggy conditions on Tuesday when he noticed the wreckage in nine feet of water off a breakwater, she said in a message to The Associated Press. Tim Pranke, a volunteer diver for the Wisconsin Historical Society, examining the wreckage of the J.C. Ames tugboat in Lake Michigan near Manitowoc, Wis. on May 15, 2025. Tamara Thomsen/Wisconsin Historical Society via AP The society said that according to the book 'Green Bay Workhorses: The Nau Tug Line,' the Rand and Burger shipbuilding company in Manitowoc built the J.C. Ames in 1881 to help move lumber. The tug was one of the largest and most powerful on the Great Lakes, with a 670-horsepower engine. The tug served multiple purposes beyond moving lumber, including transporting railway cars. It eventually fell into disrepair and was scuttled in 1923, as was the practice then when ships outlived their usefulness, Thomsen said. The ship had been buried in the sand at the bottom of the lake for decades before storms this winter apparently revealed it, Thomsen said. A lack of quagga mussels attached to the ship indicates it was only recently exposed, she said. Historians are racing to locate shipwrecks and downed planes in the Great Lakes before quagga mussels destroy them. Quagga have become the dominant invasive species in the lower lakes over the last 30 years, attaching themselves to wooden shipwrecks and sunken aircraft in layers so thick they eventually crush the wreckage. 'These kinds of discoveries are always so exciting because it allows a piece of lost history to resurface. It sat there for over a hundred years and then came back on our radar completely by chance,' Thomsen said in a statement. 'We are grateful that Chris Thuss noticed the wreck and reported it so we can share this story with the Wisconsin communities that this history belongs to.'
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Wisconsin fisherman discovers remains of 100-year-old abandoned ship on Lake Michigan
A Wisconsin angler made the discovery of a lifetime during a fishing trip on Lake when he uncovered a centuries-old shipwreck. Christopher Thuss, 25, of Two Rivers, was fishing in Lake Michigan off the city of Manitowoc in foggy conditions on Tuesday when he noticed the wreckage in nine feet of water off a breakwater, the Associated Press reported. Wisconsin historical society maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen later confirmed that Truss' unexpected discovery was the wreck of the J.C. Ames. ' These kinds of discoveries are always so exciting because it allows a piece of lost history to resurface. It sat there for over a hundred years and then came back on our radar completely by chance,' Thomsen said in a statement. 'We are grateful that Chris Thuss noticed the wreck and reported it so we can share this story with the Wisconsin communities that this history belongs to.' The society said that according to the book 'Green Bay Workhorses: The Nau Tug Line,' the Rand and Burger shipbuilding company in Manitowoc built the J.C. Ames in 1881 to help move lumber. The tug was one of the largest and most powerful on the Great Lakes, with a 670-horsepower engine. The centuries-old tug served multiple purposes beyond moving lumber, including transporting railway cars, before eventually falling into disrepair and was scuttled in 1923. Scuttling a ship means to deliberately sink it - usually by making holes in the hull or opening seacocks - as was the practice then when ships outlived their usefulness, Thomsen said. The ship had been buried in the sand at the bottom of the lake for decades before storms this winter apparently revealed it, the Maritime Archaeologist said. A lack of quagga mussels attached to the ship indicates it was only recently exposed, Thomsen added. Historians continue to locate shipwrecks and downed planes in the Great Lakes before quagga mussels destroy them. Quagga have become the dominant invasive species in the lower lakes over the last 30 years, attaching themselves to wooden shipwrecks and sunken aircraft in layers so thick they eventually crush the wreckage. Quagga mussels are considered 'bad' because they are invasive species that disrupt ecosystems, cause economic damage and threaten human health, according to the USGS. They can clog water pipes, alter food webs, and even contaminate drinking water. Thuss' incredible find comes months after Wisconsin shipwreck hunters discovered a 131-year-old shipwreck at the bottom of Lake Michigan that fell victim to a storm and took the life of the captain's dog. The Margaret A. Muir, a schooner, was found off the coast of Algoma, Wisconsin, on May 12, 2024 just moments before the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association's research team nearly pulled the sonar out of the water for the day, a press release said. 'I knew she was going to be in about 50 feet of water, I knew that her sides had opened up. I know she was laying flat, and I knew she'd be harder to find,' Brendon Baillod, a crew member of the search, told Fox 6 Milwaukee. Thompsen, then a member of the Wisconsin Historical Society, said all the pieces of the ship were found, including the personal items sailors lost in the wreck. The 130-foot three-mast schooner was supposed to dock in South Chicago from Bay City, Michigan, when it got stuck in a storm with 50mph gale-force winds around 5am on September 30, 1893.
San Francisco Chronicle
16-05-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Angler fishing in Lake Michigan fog discovers remains of abandoned tugboat J.C. Ames
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin angler fishing in the fog this week discovered the wreck of an abandoned tugboat submerged in the waters of Lake Michigan for more than a century, state officials announced Friday. Wisconsin Historical Society Maritime Archaeologist Tamara Thomsen said that the society confirmed that Christopher Thuss found the wreck of the J.C. Ames. Thuss was fishing in Lake Michigan off the city of Manitowoc in foggy conditions on Tuesday when he noticed the wreckage in nine feet of water off a breakwater, she said in a message to The Associated Press. The society said that according to the book 'Green Bay Workhorses: The Nau Tug Line,' the Rand and Burger shipbuilding company in Manitowoc built the J.C. Ames in 1881 to help move lumber. The tug was one of the largest and most powerful on the Great Lakes, with a 670-horsepower engine. The tug served multiple purposes beyond moving lumber, including transporting railway cars. It eventually fell into disrepair and was scuttled in 1923, as was the practice then when ships outlived their usefulness, Thomsen said. The ship had been buried in the sand at the bottom of the lake for decades before storms this winter apparently revealed it, Thomsen said. A lack of quagga mussels attached to the ship indicates it was only recently exposed, she said. Historians are racing to locate shipwrecks and downed planes in the Great Lakes before quagga mussels destroy them. Quagga have become the dominant invasive species in the lower lakes over the last 30 years, attaching themselves to wooden shipwrecks and sunken aircraft in layers so thick they eventually crush the wreckage. 'These kinds of discoveries are always so exciting because it allows a piece of lost history to resurface. It sat there for over a hundred years and then came back on our radar completely by chance,' Thomsen said in a statement. 'We are grateful that Chris Thuss noticed the wreck and reported it so we can share this story with the Wisconsin communities that this history belongs to.'
