How much time do you need at Cornelia B. Windiate?

Allow 1–2 hours to explore Cornelia B. Windiate.

When was the Cornelia B. Windiate lost?

The Cornelia B. Windiate was lost on Lake Huron in 1875. The recorded date of loss is November 27, 1875.

What kind of ship was the Cornelia B. Windiate?

The Cornelia B. Windiate was a three-masted schooner built in 1874.

Shipwreck & maritime history · Lake Huron

Cornelia B. Windiate

A grain schooner whose loss illustrates the hazards of late-season lake travel.

Photo: NOAA / Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary · Public domain

Ship's wheel of Cornelia B. Windiate by NOAA / Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Official website Plan a trip around it

On the coast

About Cornelia B. Windiate

Cornelia B. Windiate disappeared while carrying grain from Milwaukee toward Buffalo. Its final moments remain uncertain, and historians have discussed overloading, cold and icing as possible factors. NOAA's account distinguishes the documented voyage and later discovery from theories about the sinking.

LakeLake Huron

RegionMichigan

LostNovember 27, 1875

VesselThree-masted schooner

Historical overview only. Conditions, access and site safety can change; consult qualified local sources before any water activity.

Live · Cornelia B. Windiate

What's going on right now.

Weather, alerts, the water, the sky and local headlines, gathered from official sources as you read.

Gathering the latest conditions…

National Weather Service Environment Canada NOAA buoy observations Aurora forecast

Wreck sites are not published, so conditions are for the nearest forecast point on this shore. Live data from the U.S. National Weather Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada, NOAA's National Data Buoy Center and Space Weather Prediction Center; headlines link to the publishers. Sun and moon times are calculated. Conditions change quickly—check official forecasts before going on the water. Not for navigation.

Best time

Late spring to fall to add the Presque Isle lighthouses to a visit; Alpena's heritage center tells the story year-round.

Time needed

1–2 hours

Best months

Don't miss

Highlights of Cornelia B. Windiate.

Consider her last voyage: designed for 16,000 bushels, she left Milwaukee in late November 1875 with 21,000 bushels of wheat.
Hear how divers found her in 1986, upright with masts standing, in Lake Huron, which few believed she had ever reached.
Watch NOAA's animated fly-through of the wreck, a respectful way to see her remarkably intact hull.
Drive north to Presque Isle's 1840 and 1871 lighthouses, which watch over the stretch of Lake Huron where she disappeared.

Know before you go

Tips for visiting Cornelia B. Windiate.

The wreck lies in deep water and is a protected site; exhibits and online footage are how most visitors experience it.
The Presque Isle lighthouse museums typically open from late May to mid-October, so check before driving up.

Great for Shipwrecks & maritime history Lighthouses

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No verified point location is available. This is a lake overview, not this place's exact position. Precise shipwreck sites are not plotted.

Black-and-white basemap by OpenStreetMap. Great Lakes highlighted in color. Hold Ctrl (or Command) while scrolling to zoom. Use two fingers on touch screens.

Lake outlines: Natural Earth (public domain). Town centers: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Not for navigation.

Good to know

Questions about Cornelia B. Windiate

When is the best time to visit Cornelia B. Windiate?: Late spring to fall to add the Presque Isle lighthouses to a visit; Alpena's heritage center tells the story year-round.
How much time do you need at Cornelia B. Windiate?: Allow 1–2 hours to explore Cornelia B. Windiate.
When was the Cornelia B. Windiate lost?: The Cornelia B. Windiate was lost on Lake Huron in 1875. The recorded date of loss is November 27, 1875.
What kind of ship was the Cornelia B. Windiate?: The Cornelia B. Windiate was a three-masted schooner built in 1874.

Travel well

Make it a good visit.

Check access before leaving.

Opening hours, parking, permits and step-free access change by season. Confirm your needs with the official destination; a map pin is not an entrance.

Give the shoreline time.

Leave room for weather delays and a quieter side trail. Stay on marked paths, respect closures and support the local communities that make the coast special.

Travel thoughtfully

Look beyond the air forecast.

Waves and water temperatures can tell a very different story. Use marine forecasts and local beach advisories before any water activity.

Official weather resources

Events

Seasonal traditions on this coast.

These events share the region and lake—not necessarily this destination. Confirm current dates with organizers.

June (annual dates vary)

Mackinac Island Lilac Festival

A springtime island celebration surrounded by Lake Huron.

Organizer & event guide

July (confirm race schedule)

Port Huron to Mackinac Race

A longstanding sailing race linking the southern Lake Huron outlet with Mackinac Island.