The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL), in collaboration with Cleveland Underwater Explorers (CLUE), is proud to announce the confirmation of a newly discovered shipwreck in Lake Erie — the bark Clough — along with the opening of a temporary m
CLUE, with support from NMGL, has worked since 2001 to locate and identify shipwrecks in Lake Erie, helping to preserve and share the region’s maritime history. Following several site visits, the creation of a detailed site map, and extensive historical research, the team has now positively identified the vessel as the Clough.
The discovery carries deep meaning for CLUE and NMGL. The wreck site is associated with the tragic loss of CLUE founder David VanZandt in June 2024. In the months following his passing, both organizations committed to completing the identification process with care, accuracy, and respect. Through collaborative research and documentation, the vessel has now been formally confirmed.
Built in Lorain, Ohio, in 1867, the Clough was a stone-hauling sailing vessel owned by Baxter Clough, a quarry owner from Amherst, Ohio. Measuring 125 feet in length with a breadth of 26.5 feet, the Clough was classified as a bark — a three-masted vessel rigged with square sails on the foremast and schooner sails on the main and mizzen masts. The ship met its fate just one year after its launch, sinking on September 15, 1868, while transporting stone for Great Lakes commerce…