Burlington Bay Horse Ferry

Dive into a unique piece of 19th-century maritime innovation with the Burlington Bay Horse Ferry. Resting in the fresh waters of Lake Champlain, this wreck is the only known surviving example of a turntable-style horse ferry. These ingenious vessels were powered by horses walking on a rotating treadmill, which in turn drove the side paddle wheels. A common sight on American waterways in the mid-1800s, this specific ferry connected Burlington with Port Kent, New York.

The ferry's career ended abruptly during a fierce storm in 1876. Caught in the gale, the vessel foundered and sank to the bottom of Burlington Bay, where it lay forgotten for over a century. Rediscovered in the 1980s, it was remarkably preserved by the cold, fresh water. Today, it is recognized as a Vermont State Historic Site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a testament to its historical significance.

For certified divers, the Horse Ferry offers an extraordinary glimpse into the past. At a comfortable depth of 15 meters, the wreck is easily accessible. Divers can clearly see the revolutionary turntable mechanism, the large paddle wheels, and the largely intact hull. As a protected archaeological site, divers are reminded to look but not touch, helping to preserve this fragile and one-of-a-kind wreck for future generations to explore.