Steamer Vermillion - Shipwreck Site

Photograph

Door County Museum and Archives

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

2001.02.0041

Description

Aerial view of the shipwreck site of the Steamer Vermillion (EX.J.C.Gilchrist) (Official no. 76695). Built in 1887 at Trenton, Michigan by John Craig & Son's, Master Builders, 252' length, 42' beam, 20.4' depth, 1,827.39 gross tons. It was towed in Aug. 1923 to the Leathem & Smith Stone Quarry in the Town of Sevastopol, at the Green Bay entrance to Sturgeon Bay for use as a breakwater. The photo also includes an inset picture of the boat in service. This wreck was for many years mistakenly identified as the wreck of the Mueller. Research in 2000 by Jon Van Harpen correctly identifies the wreck as that of the Vermillion.

Collection

Door County Archives Photo Collection

Cataloged By

Sally Treichel

Acquisition

Accession

2001.02

Source or Donor

Door County Historical Society - Purchases, etc.

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Artist

Van Harpen, Jon

Place

Location

Sevastopol/Door/WI

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Print, Photographic

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Photograph

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Graphic Documents

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Search Terms

Shipwrecks, Door County, Steamer, Vermillion

Other Names and Numbers

Other Numbers

Number Type

Other Number

VanHarpen Disc

Dimensions

Height

8 in

Width

10 in

Location

Building

Office/Photo File

Date

September 26, 2025

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

General Notes

Note

Notes: Computer generated print made from a picture CD belonging to Jon Van Harpen who also allowed the Door County Archives to make a copy of his CD. The book "Hollow Pits Sunken Ships" by Alan Rowe has a rough map of the location of this boat, but listed as the Mueller. Status: OK

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

May 15, 2001

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

September 9, 2026