SS Hesper facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Namesake | Hesperus, the evening star |
| Builder | Ship Owners Dry Dock Company, Cleveland, Ohio |
| Launched | June 28, 1890 |
| Fate | Sank, 4 May 1905 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 1540 long tons (1560 metric tons) |
| Length | 250 ft (76.2 m) |
| Beam | 41.6 ft (12.7 m) |
| Draught | 20.2 ft (6.2 m) |
| Propulsion | Vertical triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine, 825 horsepower |
| Complement | Captain E.H. Heaton and a crew of 15 |
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Hesper Shipwreck Site
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A section of several long bolts on the ceiling, presumably used to mount the engine.
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Silver Bay, Minnesota, USA |
| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | Radcliffe, William H.; Shipowners Drydock Company |
| MPS | Minnesota's Lake Superior Shipwrecks MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000343 |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 1994 |
The Hesper was a large steamship built to carry many goods. It was known as a bulk-freighter. This ship also helped pull other schooner-barges on the Great Lakes. Sadly, the Hesper sank in Lake Superior during a snowstorm in 1905. Today, its remains are a protected site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
What Was the Hesper?
The Hesper was a wooden ship with one propeller and three masts. It was built in 1890 by the Bradley Transportation Company in Cleveland, Ohio. The ship was designed to carry important goods like iron ore and grain. These products were very important for the economy of Minnesota back then.
The Storm and Sinking
On May 4, 1905, the Hesper got caught in a very bad snowstorm. Strong winds, blowing at 60 miles per hour (97 km/hr), pushed the ship off course. It crashed into a hidden reef near Silver Bay, Minnesota. This reef is now part of the harbor in Silver Bay.
The ship quickly began to sink in about 42 feet (13 meters) of water. Luckily, the crew of 15, led by Captain E.H. Heaton, was able to get into the ship's lifeboats. They all escaped safely, but the Hesper was completely lost.
The Hesper Shipwreck Today
The remains of the Hesper are still in good condition under the water. The wreck lies in 30 to 48 feet (9 to 15 meters) of water. You can find it about halfway down the west breakwall of the Silver Bay harbor.
The ship's hull (the main body of the ship) is split open. The sides of the ship, called the port (left) and starboard (right) sides, lie next to the bottom of the hull. These sides still have timbers that once held the decks in place. The decks themselves probably washed ashore after the ship sank. At the back of the hull, you can see long bolts that were used to hold the ship's engine.
