A Wisconsin boat tour guide has uncovered the wreck of the Frank D. Barker—his third shipwreck discovery in recent years—using sonar, satellite images, and a GoPro in Lake Michigan.

At a Glance

• A 130-foot schooner named Frank D. Barker, lost nearly 140 years ago, has been discovered in Lake Michigan.
• Tour guide Matt Olson found the wreck using sonar and a GoPro after spotting a dark anomaly on satellite images.
• Olson had previously discovered two other 19th-century shipwrecks: the Grey Eagle and the Sunshine.
• The wreck was located near Rowley’s Bay, Wisconsin, buried beneath layers of mussels and algae.

Shipwreck Found with Sonar and Instinct

Matt Olson, a Wisconsin-based boat tour guide, was scouting new locations near Rowley’s Bay on Lake Michigan when a satellite image caught his attention. A strange shadow on the water led Olson to mount an expedition using sonar and a waterproof GoPro. Twenty-four feet below the surface, he located the remains of a massive wooden schooner buried in algae and mussels.

Experts now believe this vessel is the Frank D. Barker, a 130-foot schooner that vanished while on its way to pick up iron ore from Michigan nearly 140 years ago. Its exact fate had remained a mystery until Olson’s latest find—his third major shipwreck discovery.

Watch now: Shipwreck discovered in Lake Michigan 138 years after the Frank D. Barker sank

A Pattern of Discoveries

Olson’s record of maritime finds is remarkable. Over the past few years, he’s identified two other historic wrecks: the Grey Eagle, which sank in 1869, and the Sunshine, lost in 1868. While neither were as large as the newly uncovered schooner, both were also buried beneath years of sediment and aquatic growth.

Unlike professional marine archaeologists working with multi-million-dollar equipment, Olson uses relatively accessible tools: online maps, sonar systems, and waterproof cameras. His ability to spot anomalies and trust his instincts has become central to his success.

Mystery Solved—Nearly 140 Years Later

The Frank D. Barker was en route to load iron ore from a Michigan port when it disappeared, likely caught in one of the lake’s infamous storms. No confirmed sightings or wreckage were reported until now.

Local historians and the Wisconsin Historical Society have begun reviewing the footage and sonar data provided by Olson. If confirmed, this would close the chapter on one of Lake Michigan’s oldest maritime mysteries.

Lake Michigan’s Dangerous Reputation

Lake Michigan, while freshwater, holds a reputation as treacherous as any sea. Sudden storms and shifting sands have claimed hundreds of vessels since the 19th century. Many remain undiscovered on the lakebed, buried under years of natural buildup.

Olson’s discovery underscores how much of the lake’s history remains hidden—waiting for those with patience, intuition, and an eye for subtle clues from space. As lake levels rise and erosion patterns shift, more wrecks may become visible to citizen explorers like Olson.

Sources

Popular Mechanics
Wisconsin Public Radio
Wisconsin Historical Society