The Cornelia B. Windiate was a schooner that met its tragic end in 1875 when it sank in Lake Huron near Presque Isle, Michigan, with all hands lost. On her final voyage, the Cornelia B. Windiate was traveling eastward from Milwaukee to Buffalo, carrying a cargo of grain. The circumstances surrounding her sinking remain unclear; she departed late in the season on November 27 and was reportedly overloaded with grain, which may have contributed to her loss. Notably, there are no records indicating her passage through the Straits of Mackinac, leading to initial assumptions that she may have foundered somewhere in Lake Michigan. Her wreck was discovered in 1986 by divers at a depth of 185 feet (56 meters) in Lake Huron, near Alpena, Michigan, surprisingly farther east than expected. The preservation of the wreck is remarkable: her cargo remains secure within her holds, an unusual condition for sunken ships, and her masts are still standing with rigging intact. This well-preserved state provides valuable insight into the vessel's construction and the maritime history of the era. The discovery of the Cornelia B. Windiate adds significant value to Lake Huron's underwater cultural heritage, offering a rare glimpse into 19th-century merchant schooners and their cargo, and serving as a notable site for cave diving enthusiasts. Despite the limited information available, her story highlights the perils of maritime commerce in the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.