On a daily basis, Coeur d’Alene Cruises boats transport passengers on tours of the lake and nearby rivers. Every year, our ships travel thousands of miles above the lake to provide visitors with a unique perspective on the shoreline and wildlife of North Idaho.
But have you ever wondered what is beneath the surface of the water?
There are numerous sunken ships beneath the surface of Lake Coeur d’Alene. During the lumber boom of the 1800s, steamships were employed to transport people, mining equipment, and logs across the ocean. Hundreds of large steam-powered ships raced back and forth across the surface of the lake, creating a flurry of activity. However, when the ships were no longer serviceable, mining and logging businesses sank them in order to get rid of them as quickly as possible.
Off the coast of Steven’s Point is a popular dive location that has more than five steamship wrecks. Numerous ships were sunk when they were no longer needed, and their wreckage washed up on the shores. For further information about scuba diving this site, contact one of the local dive shops.
A large number of shipwrecks can also be found off the coast of Independence Point. After years of service, the ships were deemed unusable and were stripped of any functional components, which allowed them to be repurposed as docks for those launching fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations. Many of the abandoned ships are still in good condition, and scuba divers can visit them at depths ranging from 40 to 60 feet to witness a piece of Coeur d’Alene history preserved.
In fact, there are even stories of lost wealth in the area because of its rich past!
In the late 1880s, a barge carrying more than 150 tons of silver ore reportedly sank to the bottom of Lake Coeur d’Alene after spilling off its rails at McDonald Point. If the legends are correct, the silver mass may be worth up to $75,000 today if the stories are correct. There’s no way to determine whether or not it’s true, but local scuba divers are always on the lookout for anything suspicious.