Wreck of Historic F.J. King Discovered After 140 Years
After nearly 140 years, the wreck of the historic schooner F.J. King has been located in Lake Michigan. This discovery, announced by the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association, marks the culmination of decades of searching for the vessel that sank during a fierce storm off the coast of Wisconsin.
The wreck was uncovered on June 28 by a team led by researcher Brendon Baillod. The ship was found approximately half a mile from Bailey’s Harbor, a small town on the Door Peninsula, known for its unique geographical shape. The F.J. King, measuring 144 feet (43.89 meters) long, was built in 1867 in Toledo, Ohio, primarily to transport grain and iron ore.
The F.J. King met its tragic fate on September 15, 1886, while carrying iron ore from Escanaba, Michigan, to Chicago. It encountered a gale with waves reaching 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 meters), which caused severe damage to its hull. After several hours of attempts to pump out water, Captain William Griffin ordered the crew to abandon ship. The vessel sank bow-first around 2 a.m., with the storm scattering Griffin’s belongings across the water. Fortunately, a passing schooner rescued the crew and brought them safely to shore.
Efforts to locate the F.J. King have been ongoing since the 1970s, but conflicting reports regarding its sinking location hindered search operations. Captain Griffin indicated the ship sank approximately 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Bailey’s Harbor, while a lighthouse keeper reported seeing masts closer to the shore. Additionally, commercial fishermen often claimed to have retrieved pieces of the wreckage, adding to the confusion. Over time, the F.J. King developed a reputation as a “ghost ship” among shipwreck enthusiasts.
Baillod, reflecting on the search, noted, “A few of us had to pinch each other… After all the previous searches, we couldn’t believe we had actually found it, and so quickly.” The discovery was made using side-scan sonar, which revealed an object measuring about 140 feet (42.6 meters) in the vicinity indicated by the lighthouse keeper. Surprisingly, the hull appears largely intact, contrary to expectations that the weight of the iron ore would have caused significant damage.
The Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association has had notable success in recent years, identifying five shipwrecks in the past three years alone. Earlier in 2025, the group discovered the steamer L.W. Crane in the Fox River at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, along with the tugboat John Evenson and the schooner Margaret A. Muir off Algoma, Wisconsin. In 2023, Baillod also located the schooner Trinidad in the same region.
The Great Lakes are estimated to host between 6,000 and 10,000 shipwrecks, with many remaining undiscovered. According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin Water Library, the urgency of finding these wrecks has increased recently due to concerns about invasive quagga mussels, which threaten to damage historical sites. Recent images of the F.J. King reveal that its wreckage is already covered with these invasive species.
This remarkable discovery not only adds to the historical narrative of the Great Lakes but also serves as a reminder of the maritime heritage that remains hidden beneath the surface. The ongoing efforts to locate and preserve these shipwrecks reflect a dedication to uncovering and protecting a vital part of regional history.
