SS Hennepin

SS Hennepin, a shipwreck in Lake Michigan west of South Haven, was built in 1888 and became historically significant after a 1901 fire led to its rebuilding as the world’s first self-unloading bulk carrier. Originally launched in Milwaukee as George H. Dyer, it later hauled stone and construction aggregate around the Great Lakes before deteriorating into a barge. During a squall on August 18, 1927, it sprang a leak and sank after hours of effort to save it. Discovered in 2006, the wreck preserved features such as conveyor belts and an A-frame crane that confirmed its pioneering role in bulk shipping, leading to National Register listing in 2008.

Michigan · United States