Madeira (ship)

Madeira, off the starboard bow, c. 1900–1905
History
Laid down1900
Launched1900
FateSank November 28, 1905
General characteristics
Length436 ft (133 m)
Beam50 ft (15 m)
PropulsionTowed by a steam-powered freighter with sails on three masts for assistance
Madeira (Schooner-Barge) Shipwreck
A closeup of the port bow fairlead on the wreck of Madeira
Nearest cityBeaver Bay, Minnesota
Coordinates47°12′22″N 91°21′29″W / 47.20611°N 91.35806°W / 47.20611; -91.35806
Built1900
ArchitectChicago Shipbuilding Co.
MPSMinnesota's Lake Superior Shipwrecks MPS
NRHP reference No.92000843
Added to NRHPJuly 23, 1992

Madeira was a schooner barge that sank off the coast of Minnesota in Lake Superior on November 28, 1905. A schooner barge is a type of ship that functions like a barge, in that it is towed by a steamship, but also has sails like a schooner. This type of ship evolved from wooden sailing ships that were cut down into barges and towed behind wooden steamships, a practice which originated in the late 1880s in coastal areas. This design was commonly used in the Great Lakes for transporting grain, iron ore, and other products.