A Shipwreck, Chryslers, and an Epic Winter Storm
Imagine a brutal winter storm on Lake Superior, a steamer loaded with brand-new cars, and a desperate crew battling freezing waters and raging winds. This is the incredible story of the City of Bangor. The City of Bangor was a steel steamer built in 1896 in Bay City, that met its fate in November 1926. Let’s take a closer look at how a shipwreck, a rescue, and hundreds of Chryslers turned into one of Lake Superior’s most remarkable shipwreck tales.
City of Bangor Ship
On November 30, 1926, the City of Bangor set out from Detroit, bound for Duluth. It was carrying over 248 shiny new cars, mostly Chryslers and a few Whippets. They were valued at a whopping $3.6 million in today’s dollars. But as the ship neared Eagle River, Lake Superior had other plans. A fierce blizzard rolled in, and the crew, led by Captain William J. Mackin, scrambled to find shelter behind Keweenaw Peninsula.
Disaster Struck
Before they could round the point, disaster struck. The steering gear gave out, and the City of Bangor was thrown onto the rocky shoreline, waves pounding her hull. Ice quickly enveloped the ship as freezing water flooded the engines. In the darkness, the 29-man crew managed to launch a lifeboat and row to shore—but they were far from safety. Trapped in the woods with no food or winter gear, they huddled around a bonfire, waiting for rescue.
Luckily, another ship, the Timothy Maytham, had also been caught by the storm. Coast Guard Captain Tony Glaza, rescuing the Maytham’s crew, spotted the ice-coated wreck of the City of Bangor and its crew wandering along the beach. Hours later, he returned to rescue them all. Nine men were treated for frozen limbs, but all survived the ordeal—some even decided to stick around Keweenaw, charmed by their local nurses!
But what about the Chryslers?
Walter Chrysler himself wasn’t about to let those brand-new cars go to waste. Once the ice around the ship had solidified, salvage crews returned to retrieve the cars. They painstakingly chipped away the ice, built ramps, and drove the cars off the ship and eight miles along the frozen shore to Copper Harbor.
Not all the cars were saved—18 were lost to the storm—but the majority were in decent condition. Once the road to Calumet was cleared, the cars were shipped back to Detroit, refurbished, and sold. Local kids, some skipping school for the chance, were hired to drive the Chryslers on the icy roads.
One of those very Chryslers from the ship now sits on display at the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse and Museum as a reminder of this incredible event.
As for the City of Bangor, she wasn’t so lucky. The ship was a total loss. Over the years, salvagers removed what they could. Today the shipwreck rests in the Keweenaw Underwater Preserve, a site popular with scuba divers. The Timothy Maytham continued to sail until 1942 when she was tragically sunk by a German submarine.
A story of determination
The wreck of the City of Bangor is more than just a tale of tragedy. It is a story of resilience, innovation, and the determination of both the crew and those who worked to salvage the cargo. With ice-covered decks, car-filled holds, and a heroic rescue, this shipwreck remains a fascinating piece of Lake Superior’s maritime history.
Learn more about the rich history of the Western Upper Peninsula.
