The 140-year-old “ghost ship” schooner F.J. King, which sank in a violent 1886 storm off Wisconsin’s coast, has been discovered intact in Lake Michigan by researcher Brandon Baillod.

After more than a century of mystery, the wreck of the “ghost ship” cargo schooner F.J. King has been discovered in the frigid depths of Lake Michigan, ending decades of speculation and failed searches.

The 144-foot, three-masted schooner, which sank in a violent storm off the Wisconsin coast on September 15, 1886,

was finally located on June 28, 2025, by a team led by maritime researcher Brandon Baillod, the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association confirmed.

The discovery has thrilled historians, archaeologists, and shipwreck enthusiasts, offering a rare glimpse into the past and the harsh realities of Great Lakes shipping in the late 19th century.

The F.J. King, built in Toledo, Ohio, in 1867, had been carrying a heavy load of iron ore from Escanaba, Michigan, to Chicago when a sudden and violent gale struck the vessel off the coast of Bailey’s Harbor, a small community on Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula.

Waves reportedly reached heights of ten feet, ripping through the ship’s seams and ultimately causing it to sink around 2 a.m. despite the heroic efforts of Captain William Griffin and his crew, who fought to pump water out and keep the vessel afloat.

In a dramatic turn, the storm destroyed the stern deckhouse, sending Griffin’s papers flying into the air by 50 feet, a testament to the sheer ferocity of the storm.

Fortunately, Griffin and his crew were rescued by a passing schooner and brought safely to Bailey’s Harbor, but the schooner itself disappeared into legend, earning the moniker “ghost ship.”

The search for the F.J. King was long and arduous. Conflicting historical accounts regarding the ship’s sinking location misled generations of researchers and shipwreck hunters.

Since the 1970s, teams combing the Lake Michigan coastline have come up empty-handed, contributing to the schooner’s reputation as an elusive ghost ship.

Baillod, who has spent decades researching Great Lakes shipwrecks, believed the original accounts from Captain Griffin may have been influenced by the chaos of the storm.

Using a combination of historical lighthouse reports and modern technology, Baillod narrowed the search to a two-square-mile area and deployed side-scan radar, which ultimately revealed the 140-foot-long wreck half a mile from the lighthouse keeper’s reported location.

“After all the previous searches, we couldn’t believe we had actually found it, and so quickly,” Baillod said, reflecting the excitement and disbelief of the moment. “A few of us had to pinch each other.”

The intact hull of the F.J. King has surprised even seasoned maritime archaeologists, who expected the vessel to be broken apart due to both the storm and the massive weight of iron ore it was transporting at the time of its sinking.

The discovery provides more than just historical closure; it opens a unique window into the maritime practices, construction techniques, and daily life aboard Great Lakes cargo schooners in the 19th century.

Experts note that cargo schooners like the F.J. King were critical to regional commerce, carrying raw materials such as iron ore, coal, and lumber across the vast inland seas, often at great personal risk to the crew due to unpredictable weather conditions.

Lake Michigan, with its notorious storms and cold, dark waters, claimed many vessels during this era, making the survival of the F.J. King’s hull a remarkable occurrence.

Baillod’s discovery is part of a broader resurgence in underwater archaeology in the region.

Over the past three years, the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association has located five previously lost vessels, including the steamer L.W. Crane in the Fox River at Oshkosh, tugboat John Evenson and schooner Margaret A.

Muir off Algoma, and the schooner Trinidad, also discovered by Baillod off Algoma in 2023. Each find contributes valuable insight into the region’s rich maritime history and the evolution of shipping and commerce on the Great Lakes.

The F.J. King’s discovery has also sparked local interest and excitement in Bailey’s Harbor, a quiet town with a population of just 280 people.

Residents have expressed pride in the attention their community has drawn, recognizing both the historical significance and the potential for tourism tied to the newly uncovered wreck.

Local historians have already begun collaborating with researchers to document the ship’s final voyage, salvage artifacts where possible, and ensure that the F.J. King’s story is preserved for future generations.

The intact hull also presents opportunities for further research.

Archaeologists plan to conduct detailed underwater surveys, mapping the vessel’s structure, identifying any cargo remnants, and examining signs of damage from the storm to better understand how the ship met its watery fate.

The preservation of the hull is unusual for a Great Lakes shipwreck of this age, providing a rare and valuable case study in maritime archaeology.

In addition to historical and academic interest, the find offers a human element that continues to captivate. The story of Captain Griffin and his crew, battling a furious storm, provides a tangible connection to the challenges faced by 19th-century sailors.

The F.J. King’s disappearance and rediscovery reflect not only the perilous nature of Great Lakes shipping but also the enduring fascination with lost ships and ghostly maritime legends that persist in folklore and popular culture.

With the F.J. King finally located, researchers and enthusiasts alike can reflect on the combined efforts of past and present, illustrating the blend of historical detective work and modern technology that makes such discoveries possible.

As Baillod and his team continue to document and study the wreck, the F.J. King promises to become a centerpiece of Great Lakes maritime history,

drawing attention to both the bravery of those who sailed these inland seas and the relentless dedication of those who search for the stories hidden beneath the waves.

The discovery of the F.J. King underscores the enduring allure of shipwrecks and the mysteries they hold.

While many vessels are lost to time, the combined efforts of historians, archaeologists, and local communities ensure that these ghostly reminders of the past continue to capture the imagination.

For Lake Michigan and maritime enthusiasts worldwide, the F.J. King is more than just a sunken ship—it is a tangible link to an era of adventure, danger, and perseverance on the Great Lakes.