Summary (tl;dr)

A mother and son at Camp Amnicon in Wisconsin recently discovered the century-old tugboat shipwreck, the A.H. Pitz, made visible by unusually clear water conditions in Lake Superior.

Essential Background

The A.H. Pitz was a steam-powered tugboat, nearly 70 feet long, built in 1923 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It was reportedly abandoned and intentionally sunk in 1951 at the mouth of the Amnicon River in Lake Superior, possibly to stabilize a sandbar. Typically, the wreck remains hidden due to the murky, clay-rich waters of Lake Superior's southern shore.

The Full Story

Hannah Damon, director of outreach and administration at Camp Amnicon Adventures and Retreats, and her 9-year-old son, made the unexpected discovery while walking along the camp's sandy beach near South Range, Wisconsin. Unusually clear and calm water conditions in Lake Superior allowed them to clearly see the submerged wooden beams, cables, and a large pipe belonging to the A.H. Pitz. Despite having visited the beach for over a decade, Damon had never before seen the shipwreck. She quickly captured footage of the rare sighting, which subsequently garnered significant online attention for Camp Amnicon.

Why It Matters

This rare sighting has brought a piece of local maritime history to light, captivating both the immediate community and a wider online audience. The "viral" nature of the discovery for Camp Amnicon underscores the public's fascination with hidden historical artifacts and the unique natural conditions that occasionally reveal them. It also fosters connections among individuals who share memories of the area's past and highlights the often-unseen stories beneath the Great Lakes.

Geographic Location

• Camp Amnicon Adventures and Retreats, South Range, Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States (discovery of the A.H. Pitz shipwreck)
• Lake Superior, Wisconsin, United States (body of water where the shipwreck is located)
• Mouth of the Amnicon River, Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States (area where the A.H. Pitz was abandoned and sunk)