LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – The National Museum of the Great Lakes has confirmed the discovery of a shipwreck in Lake Erie, the bark Clough.
The Cleveland Underwater Explorers, with support from the museum, have been working since 2001 to locate and identify shipwrecks in Lake Erie. After multiple site visits, the creation of a detailed site map, and historical research, the team has positively identified the vessel as the Clough.
The National Museum of the Great Lakes has confirmed the discovery of a shipwreck in Lake Erie, the bark Clough.(National Museum of the Great Lakes)
The National Museum of the Great Lakes has confirmed the discovery of a shipwreck in Lake Erie, the bark Clough.(National Museum of the Great Lakes)
Built in Lorain, Ohio, in 1867, the Clough was a stone-hauling sailing vessel owned by Baxter Clough, a quarry owner from Amherst, Ohio. The ship measured 125 feet in length and 26.5 feet in breadth. Classified as a bark, it was a three-masted vessel.
The Clough sank just one year after its launch, on Sept. 15, 1868, while transporting stone for Great Lakes commerce.
To share the discovery with the public, the museum will open a temporary microexhibit highlighting the Clough and the process behind its identification. The exhibit runs from Feb. 18 through April 16 at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo.
Visitors can learn about the vessel’s history, the archaeological work that confirmed its identity, and CLUE’s ongoing efforts to document Lake Erie shipwrecks. More information is available on the National Museum of the Great Lakes’ website.
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