On May 13, 2025, Chris Thuss, a passionate Wisconsin angler, stumbled upon an exhilarating find while fishing in visibility-reducing fog. He discovered the remains of the J.C. Ames tugboat on Lake Michigan, uncovering an important aspect of our country’s maritime history. A crew of local scuba divers discovered the sunken ship lying in nine feet of water just off a breakwater near Manitowoc. This ship was once the largest, longest and most powerful on the Great Lakes. This find was in the midst of decades of the tugboat’s ruin, buried in the sand since its scuttling in 1923.
The J.C. Ames tugboat, shown in this 1910 photo, was constructed in 1881 by the Rand and Burger shipbuilding firm in Manitowoc. It largely shaped the area’s history by carrying lumber. Powered by a musclebound 670-horsepower engine, it was literally built to help haul timber from shore to shore across the Great Lakes. As shipping requirements changed, the tugboat became unnecessary and purposefully sunk.
A Forgotten Artifact
Weaving together the past and present, the J.C. Ames tugboat’s story started more than 100 years ago. Yet it was constructed to serve the intense needs of a rapidly expanding lumber industry. Its high-ground clearance design and bulldozer-like engine made it an indispensable tool when it came to moving timber. By the early 1920s, developments in shipping technology had made many older vessels uncompetitive. As was the custom at the time, when the tugboat ceased to be useful, she was scuttled in 1923.
For decades, it stayed submerged beneath the shifting sands at the bottom of Lake Michigan. It turned into just another lost relic of maritime history. Only recently was the wreckage uncovered after recent winter storms moved sediment around and uncovered the wreckage. This coincidental catch is what led to Thuss’s major find while fishing.
Urgency of Preservation
In the wake of this remarkable discovery, the Wisconsin Historical Society had some great news to share on Friday. They were passionate advocates for the desire to protect in danger shipwrecks like the J.C. Ames. Tim Pranke, a volunteer diver with the society said it was a thrill to come face-to-face with the wreckage. Each shipwreck is an important part of our history,” explained Pranke, highlighting the importance of discoveries like these in piecing together Wisconsin’s rich maritime heritage.
Transportation historians are on a clock to find these important shipwrecks and downed planes across the Great Lakes. They need to move fast before invasive species such as quagga mussels wreak even greater havoc. In 30 years of invasions by quagga mussels in lower glacial lakes. They graft themselves to old wooden sailing ship wrecks with tenacious, single-minded purpose. This duplicative behavior threatens to grind and crush these vital pieces of history beneath their bureaucratic wheels.
Sharing History with Communities
This rediscovery of the J.C. Ames tugboat is a valuable addition to our historical knowledge. It increases social cohesion by providing opportunities for local people to engage with their maritime history. The Wisconsin Historical Society is committed to making this history available to the communities that treasure this legacy.
Historians and recreational divers are returning to explore and help preserve the wreckage. In doing so, they hope to foster a greater understanding and appreciation for Lake Michigan’s rich maritime history. The J.C. Ames serves as a reminder of the region’s rich past and the importance of safeguarding its stories for future generations.