USS Puritan (ID-2222) facts for kids
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SS Puritan prior to World War I
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | SS Puritan |
| Builder |
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| Christened | SS Puritan |
| Completed | 1901 |
| Acquired | April 1918 (U.S. Navy) |
| Commissioned | 20 November 1918 |
| Decommissioned | 1919 |
| Renamed | George M. Cox |
| Fate | Sunk 1933 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Commercial steamship |
| Displacement | 1,762 tons |
| Length |
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| Beam | 40.5 ft (12.3 m) |
| Speed | 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) |
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GEORGE M. COX
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Diving the wreckage
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | Near Rock of Ages Light, Isle Royale National Park Michigan |
| Area | 206.6 acres (83.6 ha) |
| MPS | Shipwrecks of Isle Royale National Park TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001749 |
| Added to NRHP | 14 June 1984 |
The SS Puritan, later known as the SS George M. Cox, was a passenger ship built in Toledo, Ohio. It was launched in 1901 and made longer in 1908. The ship sailed on the Great Lakes, carrying passengers for many years.
During World War I, the U.S. Navy bought the Puritan. After the war, it went back to being a passenger ship. In 1933, the ship sank near Isle Royale in Lake Superior. Today, its wreck is a popular spot for divers and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
The Puritan's Early Life
The Puritan began its life as a passenger ship. It mostly sailed on Lake Michigan. The ship carried people between cities like Chicago, Holland, and Benton Harbor.
In April 1918, during World War I, the U.S. Navy bought the Puritan. It officially became a Navy ship on November 20, 1918. The Navy planned to use it to transport things along the coast. However, the ship might have stayed only on the Great Lakes during its time with the Navy. In 1919, the Navy stopped using the Puritan. It was then sold to a company in Chicago.
Back to Passenger Trips
From 1920 to 1929, the Puritan went back to carrying passengers. It sailed from Chicago to other ports on the Great Lakes. When the Great Depression started, the ship was put out of service. It stayed docked and unused for a while.
The George M. Cox and Its Last Voyage
In the 1930s, a businessman named George Cox bought the Puritan. He was from New Orleans. The ship was given a fancy makeover. In 1933, it was renamed the George M. Cox.
On May 27, 1933, the George M. Cox began its first trip with special guests. It was a foggy day. The ship hit some shallow rocks near the Rock of Ages Light. All 127 passengers and crew were rescued safely. They spent the night in the crowded lighthouse and on nearby rocks. The ship could not be saved. It stayed on the rocks until a big storm in October broke it apart. The wreck now rests in 10 to 100 feet (3 to 30 meters) of water.
Visiting the Wreck Today
The wreck of the George M. Cox is a very popular place for divers. In 2009, about 65 dives were made to this wreck. This was out of 1,062 dives made to all the shipwrecks in Isle Royale National Park.
A Historic Wreck
The wreck of the George M. Cox was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1984. This means it is an important historical site. It is mentioned with other nearby wrecks in a special report called Shipwrecks of Isle Royale National Park.
