Lottie Cooper Shipwreck Display

The Lottie Cooper shipwreck display in Sheboygan, Wisconsin is one of the Great Lakes’ most unique historic attractions, allowing visitors to walk through the restored remains of a three-masted schooner that sank in Sheboygan Harbor in 1894. After spending more than a century beneath the waters of Lake Michigan, the shipwreck was recovered, preserved, and reassembled on land where visitors can experience a rare piece of Wisconsin maritime history up close.

Built in 1876, the Lottie Cooper carried lumber across the Great Lakes during the height of Wisconsin’s shipping era before meeting its fate during a spring storm. The schooner was discovered decades later and recovered in 1992 near the boat launch during construction of the Harbor Centre Marina, giving visitors a glimpse into the challenges faced by the sailors, ships, and communities that depended on Lake Michigan commerce. Today, the preserved wreck serves as a reminder of Sheboygan’s connection to the Great Lakes and the many shipwrecks that remain part of Wisconsin’s underwater heritage.

Located along the Sheboygan waterfront, the Lottie Cooper shipwreck display is a free, self-guided attraction where visitors can walk around and through the remains of the historic vessel. The 89-foot-long section of the wreck in Deland Park by the marina is the longest section of a Great Lakes schooner on display. Whether you are interested in Wisconsin history, Great Lakes shipwrecks, unusual roadside attractions, or offbeat places worth exploring, the Lottie Cooper offers a fascinating look at a forgotten chapter of the state’s past.