Hamilton & Scourge National Historic Site
The only complete 1812 warships remaining in the world
rest under 90 metres of water.
rest under 90 metres of water.
Hamilton & Scourge
A century before the sinking of the Titanic, two ships - the Hamilton and the Scourge - capsized and plunged into Lake Ontario's depths.
On August 8, 1813, two American schooners, the USS Hamilton and USS Scourge foundered during a storm on Lake Ontario off Port Dalhousie. The ships went to the bottom in a matter of moments when a sudden squall caused them to capsize with at least 53 crewmen lost, making it the largest loss of United States naval personnel in a single event during the War of 1812.
The wrecks remained undisturbed at the bottom of the Lake until they were discovered by a Canadian research ship in 1973.
Since 1980, the City of Hamilton has owned and managed the Hamilton & Scourge National Historic Site. Several underwater surveys of the site have contributed to our knowledge of these unique time capsules of maritime life.
A Deep Dive: Hamilton & Scourge
"The flashes of lightning were incessant, and nearly blinded me. Our decks seemed on fire, and yet I could see nothing. I heard no hail, no order, no call; but the schooner was filled with the shrieks and cries of the men..."
- Ned Myers, survivor, sinking of the Scourge
- Ned Myers, survivor, sinking of the Scourge
Thee Hamilton & Scourge now sit upright and intact 500 metres apart, 90 metres below the surface of Lake Ontario. The ships became a national historic site of Canada in 1976 as examples of merchant ships converted to warships during the War of 1812.
The Hamilton & Scourge were initially named the Diana and the Lord Nelson, respectively. They were not large specialized war vessels; instead, they were simple merchant ships that were pressed into service for the American Navy just prior to the War of 1812. Both ships saw limited service in the War, each playing a role in the capture of Fort George in May, 1813, before being lost in a storm the following August.
Join the 2009 Underwater Survey team led by Parks Canada Underwater Archaeology Service and ASI Group along with professional divers, Mike and Warren Fletcher in this episode of Dive Detectives for a more in-depth look at these two shipwrecks.
Annual Sunset Ceremony for the Hamilton & Scourge
There is an annual ceremony each August to mark the loss of the 53 sailors who went down with the United States armed schooners Hamilton & Scourge during the War of 1812.
Members of the public are invited to attend this memorial which takes place each year at the Hamilton & Scourge Naval Memorial Garden in Confederation Park.
Members of the American Legion in Canada respectfully tend to the markers each year by placing a new star-spangled banner on each one.
Visit the events page for details on this and other special events.
Museum EventsMembers of the public are invited to attend this memorial which takes place each year at the Hamilton & Scourge Naval Memorial Garden in Confederation Park.
Members of the American Legion in Canada respectfully tend to the markers each year by placing a new star-spangled banner on each one.
Visit the events page for details on this and other special events.
Hamilton & Scourge National Historic Site
Ownership of the Shipwrecks
Ownership of the Hamilton & Scourge shipwrecks was with the United States Navy until 1978, when they were transferred to the City of Hamilton by Congress through the Royal Ontario Museum.
Learn More
While the Hamilton & Scourge are protected underwater heritage sites and thus inaccessible to the public, you can learn more about the ships themselves and the War of 1812 by visiting the exhibitions at The Hamilton Military Museum and Battlefield House Museum & National Historic Site.
