History & Site Description of the Wooden Bulk Freigher SS. Florida

Brief History & Site Description of the Wooden Bulk Freighter SS. Florida

The Site & History The SS Florida (official number 120753) was built in Buffalo, NY in 1889. It was 271 ft long with a beam of 40 ft and depth of 15ft. During its relatively short career it was one of the largest vessels on the Great Lakes -- large especially for a wooden bulk freighter. Surprisingly enough the Florida had a triple expansion steam engine, which is unusual for a wooden bulk freighter of the era. On May 21, 1897 while carrying a cargo of flour and general merchandise, she collided with the even larger 281 ft wooden steamer George W. Roby cutting a gash into her starboard side, which is an impressive highlight of the wreck today. All of her crew were rescued by the Roby.

Today the SS Florida sits in 195 ft of water in amazingly intact condition. The stern is collapsed exposing the triple expansion steam engine with intact gauge panel and towing bit. The giant steel boiler cabins house two Scotch boilers which are vented to two separate stacks. The forward cabins are gone, but the hull and cargo holds are very impressive including the awesome sight of the "V" shaped gash in the starboard side. The masts lie on the deck and are equally impressive. Forward of the boiler cabin is a wooden deck house which I believe to be a guest dining cabin. If so, it must be the only surviving structure of its kind on the Great Lakes. Visibility appears to hover around 100ft. which makes this wreck one of the most impressive dives in the lake. The finders and all previous visitors to the sight have left the most impressive set of artifacts you will see on a Great Lakes shipwreck including the bell, gauge panel, and an engraved capstan cover. It is encouraging to see the fruits of our Great Lakes diving etiquette, where you don't have to be the first visitor to a sight to see a virgin shipwreck. My hat is off to all of the divers who visited the sight before me and respectfully left it as they found it. Hope you will do the same.