| Frank O'Connor (bulk carrier) | |
| Location: | Lake Michigan off the coast of North Bay, Door County, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates: | 45.1144°N -87.0122°W |
| Refnum: | 94000656 |
| Added: | June 1, 1994 |
SS Frank O'Connor was a bulk carrier that sank in Lake Michigan off the coast of North Bay, Door County, Wisconsin, United States. In 1994 the shipwreck site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
Originally called the City of Naples, the Frank O'Connor was built in West Bay City, Michigan in 1892.[2] The vessel was renamed in 1916.[3]
On September 29, 1919, Frank O'Connor left Buffalo, New York en route to Milwaukee, Wisconsin carrying 3,000 tons of coal.[4] Three days later, she passed through the Straits of Mackinac and was expected to make port ahead of schedule. On October 3 at 4:00 p.m., a fire broke out in the bow. Roughly an hour later, the ship's steering gear was destroyed by the fire, leaving it drifting in the water about two miles off the coast of Cana Island. The keeper of the Cana Island Light had noticed the burning vessel from land and, along with his assistant, was able to tow the O'Connors crew on their lifeboats to shore. A portion of the Frank O'Connors cargo was later recovered, but the ship itself remained lost.[5]
Despite the fire, most of Frank O'Connors machinery remained intact and upright, making it a popular archaeological and recreational site. The ship is owned by the State of Wisconsin and the site is managed by the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.[6] She lies in 50feetto67feetft (toft) of water about 2miles off Cana Island.[7]