Lake Ontario

FACTS for Proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary
The following facts have been compiled by explorers with combined experience totaling more than 80 years actively researching and discovering shipwrecks in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Lake Ontario: 56 shipwrecks* are estimated to be in the...  more »

The Enduring Mystery of the HMS Speedy
The Lost Ship of the Month for December is the legendary British gunboat HMS Speedy, lost with all hands in 1804 on Lake Ontario. The Speedy is one of the earliest lost ships still missing on the Great Lakes and played a significant role in Canadian...  more »

Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario: A Journey of Discovery
The National Museum of the Great Lakes is excited to announce the release of a new book titled Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario: A Journey of Discovery. This book contains the stories of these long lost shipwrecks and the journeys of the underwater explorers who found them, written by Jim Kennard with paintings by Roland Stevens and underwater imagery by Roger Pawlowski.  more »

Oswego – Bay of Sunken Houseboats
While searching for historic shipwrecks off Oswego we occasionally find modern boats on the bottom of Lake Ontario, the majority of which have been houseboats. Experienced boaters know that the lake can sometimes change very rapidly from calm waters into...  more »

Rare Sailing Craft Found in Lake Ontario
Oswego, New York – A rare sailing craft identified as a scow-sloop has been located in deep water off Oswego, NY. In August 1872 the scow-sloop Black Duck was enroute from Oswego to Sackets Harbor when it foundered in a northwest gale. Only a small...  more »

Rare 18th Century Sloop Washington Discovered in Lake Ontario
Oswego, NY - A rare 18th century built sloop, Washington (also known as Lady Washington), has been discovered in Lake Ontario off the shores of Oswego, New York by a team of shipwreck explorers. Jim Kennard, Roger Pawlowski, and Roland Stevens located...  more »

158 year old Canadian Schooner Royal Albert Discovered in Lake Ontario
Fair Haven, New York - The Canadian schooner Royal Albert has been discovered in deep water off the southern shore of Lake Ontario near Fair Haven, NY. Shipwreck explorers, Jim Kennard and Roger Pawlowski located the shipwreck utilizing a high resolution...  more »

Mid-19th Century Steamship Bay State Discovered in Lake Ontario
Fair Haven, New York - The steamship Bay State has been discovered in the deep depths off the southern shore of Lake Ontario near Fair Haven, NY. Shipwreck explorers, Jim Kennard and Roger Pawlowski located the shipwrecked steamer Bay State utilizing a...  more »

Canal Boats from 1800s Found in Lake Ontario
Two canal boats that may date back to the mid 1800’s have been discovered in Lake Ontario by a team of shipwreck explorers. Jim Kennard, Roger Pawlowski, and Roland Stevens located the canal boats using DeepVision side scan sonar while searching for...  more »

1926 Steamship Nisbet Grammer Discovered in Lake Ontario
The British steamship Nisbet Grammer, the largest steel steamer to have foundered in Lake Ontario has been discovered by a team of shipwreck explorers. Dan Scoville, Jim Kennard, Craig Hampton, and Roland Stevens located the steamer thirty miles east of...  more »

Early 1800’s Dagger-board Schooner Three Brothers Discovered in Lake Ontario
A rare dagger–board schooner, Three Brothers, has been discovered in deep water off Oswego, New York by a team of shipwreck enthusiasts. Jim Kennard, Roger Pawlowski, and Roland Stevens located the schooner in early July utilizing high resolution...  more »

U.S.A.F. aircraft abandoned in flight discovered in Lake Ontario
The wreck of a U.S. Air Force C-45 aircraft abandoned during flight by its crew in 1952 has been located in deep water off Oswego, New York. Crippled by the failure of one of its two engines the plane continued on a 65 mile pilotless flight until it...  more »

Early 20th Century Canadian Steamer Roberval Discovered in Lake Ontario
Rochester, New York – The Canadian steamer Roberval which foundered in 1916 when struck by a rogue wave has been discovered in the deep depths of Lake Ontario. The Roberval is one of only two undiscovered steel clad ships still in the lake and has...  more »

Mid-Nineteenth Century Canadian Schooner Ocean Wave Discovered by Shipwreck Explorers
Rochester, New York – The battered remains of the Canadian schooner Ocean Wave, which capsized and eventually sank from a sudden and violent squall, has been found in the depths of Lake Ontario. Shipwreck explorers Jim Kennard, Roger Pawlowski and...  more »

175 Year Old Great Lakes Atlas Schooner Located in Lake Ontario
Rochester, New York - The wreckage of the schooner Atlas which sank in 1839 during a gale has been located in Lake Ontario. The Atlas may be the oldest confirmed commercial schooner discovered in the Great Lakes. A team of shipwreck enthusiasts, Jim...  more »

Discovery of Scow Schooner Shannon
On June 20th 1874 the two masted scow schooner Shannon let loose her lines from the coal dock at the port of Oswego. Around 4:00pm the Shannon passed Oswego light and headed out into the lake. She had just taken on 100 tons of anthracite coal owned by...  more »

Portion of Ill Fated Tow Found by Shipwreck Explorers in Deep Depths of Lake Ontario off Oswego, NY
Oswego, NY: At approximately 4:40am on the night of November 17th 1879 the crew of the dredge Gordon fought for their lives in a Lake Ontario gale. Few lived to tell the tale of the last moments before the barge turned on its side and sank in deep water....  more »

Lost Deck Cargo Valued at $700,000 Found by Shipwreck Explorers in Lake Ontario
A large crane and associated construction equipment with an estimate worth of over $700,000 lost in a violent October gale in 1981 has been discovered by a team of shipwreck explorers in Lake Ontario.  more »

Shipwreck discovery in Lake Ontario of 158 year old schooner Queen of the Lakes
A mid 1800's Canadian schooner, Queen of the Lakes, has been discovered in deep water off the southern shore of Lake Ontario near Sodus Point, New York.  more »

Shipwreck Explorers Discover 1850's Schooner in Lake Ontario
Rochester, New York - A mid 1800's schooner has been discovered in deep water off the southern shore of Lake Ontario near Oak Orchard, New York. Shipwreck enthusiasts Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville finally located the old schooner after a search effort that took them more than 5 years.  more »

Shipwreck Explorers Discover 1890’s Steamer in Lake Ontario
Oak Orchard, New York - The steamer Samuel F. Hodge has been discovered in the deep depths off the southern shore of Lake Ontario near Oak Orchard, NY. Shipwreck explorers, Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville, located the old steamer utilizing high resolution...  more »

LEGEND OF THE LAKE - New Discovery Edition Book - HMS Ontario
A story two centuries in the making: LEGEND OF THE LAKE (Discovery Edition) The 22-Gun Brig-Sloop HMS Ontario, 1780  more »

200 Year Old US Warship may be buried in creek in upstate New York
A 200 year old US warship may be buried in French Creek Bay near Clayton, New York. A cannon salvaged from the old hull of a shipwreck over a half century ago may be the link to the USS Oneida.  more »

200 Year Old “Dagger-Board” Schooner Discovered in Lake Ontario
A rare dagger-board schooner has been discovered in over 500 feet of water off the southern shore of Lake Ontario using deep towed side scan sonar equipment. Sailing vessels of this type were in use on the lakes for only a short period of time beginning in the very early 1800’s. This ship is the only dagger-board schooner known to have been found in the Great Lakes.  more »

Shipwreck Explorers Discover HMS Ontario - 1780 British Warship in Lake Ontario
HMS Ontario, a British warship built in 1780 has been discovered in deep water off the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Shipwreck enthusiasts Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville located the ship utilizing sophisticated side scanning sonar and an underwater remote operated vehicle. HMS Ontario is the oldest confirmed shipwreck and the only fully intact British warship to have ever been found in the Great Lakes.  more »
« Previous 1

Submit your own

Contribute:

Ask a Question

Categories
New England coast
Lake Erie
Lake Huron
Lake Michigan
Lake Ontario
Lake Superior
Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario - A Journey of Discovery Book

The National Museum of the Great Lakes is excited to announce the release of a new book titled Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario: A Journey of Discovery. This book contains stories of long lost shipwrecks and the journeys of the underwater explorers who found them, written by Jim Kennard with paintings by Roland Stevens and underwater imagery by Roger Pawlowski.

Buy Now!



Legend of the Lake - New Discovery Edition Book

The recent discovery of the wreck of the British warship Ontario, “the Holy Grail” of Great Lakes shipwrecks, solves several mysteries that have puzzled historians since the ship sank more than two centuries ago. Now, for the first time, the whole tragic story of the Ontario can finally be told.

Buy Now!



Follow Us