Ghost Ships of the Great Lakes

Posted on by May 10, 2011

For those in the US, the National Geographic Channel is featuring a a program “Ghost Ships of the Great Lakes” this evening at 10PM.  Looks interesting.

Ghost Ships of the Great Lakes

The discovery of a human skull in the depths of Lake Superior begins a story that will take historian and author Brendon Baillod across two Great Lakes and a century of history. It takes him and a team of elite technical divers more than 20 miles off Milwaukee where they discover the wreck of one of Lake Michigans lost queens. It takes them to the remote waters of Lake Superior where they risk their lives to determine the identity of yet another lost ship. And it takes us into the forgotten life of a brave and stubborn woman who lived, and died, on these wild waters. Whether her presence cursed these lost ships, or a more earthly explanation can be found, the Great Lakes reputation as a graveyard for mariners stands firm.

Thanks to Phil Leon or pointing the program out.

 

 

Comments

Ghost Ships of the Great Lakes — 3 Comments

  1. The Victory Chimes owners Captain Richard “Kip” Files and Captain Paul DeGaeta and crew along with the Victory Chimes three-masted schooner. Nautical historians refer to Victory Chimes as a “Chesapeake Bay Ram.” About 30 of these Rams were built at yards along the Nanticoke River from 1870 to around 1920. The Chesapeake Bay Rams are considered to be some of America’s most successful cargo sailing vessels, earning that reputation during an era that saw steam powered vessels taking over the trade. She’s 127.5 feet at the waterline and 132 feet at the upper deck.

    Built in 1900, she is the schooner featured on the obverse of the State of Maine scienc quarter. More at http://www.nps.gov/maritime/nhl/victory.htm. And at http://www.victorychimes.com/index.html

    Having sailed on her, it is truly an experience steeped in the era of the ‘age of sail.’. It was wonderful seeing her used to illustrate the long lost four masted schooner, “OLIVE JEANETTE” and listening to expertise of Captain Kip Files as to how large sail boats act in heavy weather.

  2. If anyone missed this program on Nat. Geo.
    Here are the times it repeats:

    Explorer “Ghost Ships of the Great Lakes”
    Sat 5/14 7:00-8:00PM,
    Tue 5/17 6:00-7:00PM