A sunken schooner near Algoma has gone from mystery to the National Register of Historic Places. The Wisconsin Historical Society made the announcement of Wednesday. It was just over a year ago that Brendon Baillod and Robert Jaeck found the 156-year-old 140-foot schooner Trinidad, on July 15th, 2023 using various tools, including survivor accounts of the shipwreck and side scan sonar technology. According to Baillod, the ship was built in New York in the 1860s, and it was primarily used for grain trade between Milwaukee, Chicago, and Oswego, New York. The Trinidad sank shortly after leaving the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal in May 1881, about 10 miles from Algoma’s shores. He called it a unique vessel to find because of its backstory and its condition. The vessel was added to the State Register of Historic Places in March. The Isabel and Orrin Johnson House in Neenah was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on Wednesday.

(photo from Wisconsin Historical Society)