Mom Spots Century-Old Shipwreck in Lake Superior After Rare Clear Water Event

Hannah Damon, director of outreach and administration at Camp Amnicon Adventures and Retreats in South Range, Wisconsin, recently discovered the remains of a century-old shipwreck in Lake Superior. The find occurred during a day at the beach with her 9-year-old son, when unusually clear water revealed the submerged vessel.

The shipwreck has been identified as the A.H. Pitz, a steam-powered tugboat built in 1923. It was abandoned in 1951.

Damon had been aware of the sunken vessel for years but had never seen it until the exceptionally clear conditions allowed for a glimpse of its remains. "We started seeing beams and cables and this massive pipe, and it was like, wait a minute, this is a shipwreck, this is a shipwreck," Damon told Fox News Digital.

The clear water provided a rare view of the tugboat's remains, including weathered wooden beams and debris scattered along the lakebed. Damon described the water as "crystal clear" and glassy, a stark contrast to the typically murky conditions of that part of Lake Superior. The area is situated within the Lake Superior clay plain, where the surrounding soil often makes visibility beneath the surface difficult.

"I hope it's one of those things that, every once in a while, if you know where to look, you'll be able to find it. But it's definitely a rare find. It's really exciting," Damon said, noting that the water was murky again on her next visit.

The A.H. Pitz was constructed in 1923 for the McMullen and Pitz Construction Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It was named after Armond Pitz, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. The nearly 70-foot-long tugboat changed hands multiple times before being intentionally sunk at the mouth of the Amnicon River in 1951, reportedly to help stabilize a sandbar.

After sharing her discovery on social media, Damon noted the significant community response. "It was probably the closest thing to ‘viral’ the Camp Amnicon has ever experienced," she said. Many commenters shared their own memories of the vessel, some recalling seeing it as far back as 1967. Damon believes these shared memories can help reconnect the community through local history.