National Museum of the Great Lakes and Cleveland Underwater Explorers Confirm New Lake Erie Shipwreck, Announce Temporary Exhibit Highlighting Discovery

February 18, 2026 (Toledo, Ohio) – The National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL), in collaboration with Cleveland Underwater Explorers (CLUE), is proud to announce the confirmation of a newly discovered shipwreck in Lake Erie — the bark Clough — along with the opening of a temporary micro exhibit showcasing the find.

CLUE, with support from NMGL, has worked since 2001 to locate and identify shipwrecks in Lake Erie, helping to preserve and share the region’s maritime history. Following several site visits, the creation of a detailed site map, and extensive historical research, the team has now positively identified the vessel as the Clough.

The discovery carries deep meaning for CLUE and NMGL. The wreck site is associated with the tragic loss of CLUE founder David VanZandt in June 2024. In the months following his passing, both organizations committed to completing the identification process with care, accuracy, and respect. Through collaborative research and documentation, the vessel has now been formally confirmed.

Built in Lorain, Ohio, in 1867, the Clough was a stone-hauling sailing vessel owned by Baxter Clough, a quarry owner from Amherst, Ohio. Measuring 125 feet in length with a breadth of 26.5 feet, the Clough was classified as a bark — a three-masted vessel rigged with square sails on the foremast and schooner sails on the main and mizzen masts. The ship met its fate just one year after its launch, sinking on September 15, 1868, while transporting stone for Great Lakes commerce.

To share this important discovery with the public, NMGL will debut a new temporary micro exhibit highlighting the Clough and the process behind its identification. The exhibit opens February 18 and will be on view through April 16 at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo. Visitors will learn about the vessel’s history, the archaeological work that led to its confirmation, and CLUE’s ongoing efforts to document Lake Erie shipwrecks.

“This discovery represents both a significant chapter in Great Lakes maritime history and a meaningful continuation of David VanZandt’s legacy,” said Carrie Sowden, Director of Archaeology and Research, National Museum of the Great Lakes. “We’re honored to partner with CLUE to bring this story to light and to share it with our community through this exhibit.”

The Clough micro exhibit offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at underwater exploration and historical research, connecting modern discovery with 19th-century Great Lakes commerce.

Museum admission includes access to the exhibit. For more information, visit nmgl.org.

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About the National Museum of the Great Lakes: The National Museum of the Great Lakes preserves, shares, and celebrates the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story. As an interactive, experiential museum, we offer visitors the chance to explore thousands of years of history and stories through nine dynamic exhibit galleries—including a rotating temporary exhibition space—and two historic museum vessels, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio, plus the pilothouse of the storied St. Marys Challenger.

Founded in 1944 as the Great Lakes Historical Society, we have a long-standing commitment to education, research, and storytelling. Our initiatives include the publication of Inland Seas®, a quarterly journal of Great Lakes history since 1945 and decades of maritime preservation and archaeological exploration. Today, we strive to be the gathering place for Great Lakes conversations—welcoming all to connect with the stories, people, and innovations that have shaped and continue to influence this vital region.

About Cleveland Underwater Explorers (CLUE)
Founded in 2001 by Lake Erie shipwreck divers David VanZandt and Kevin Magee, Cleveland Underwater Explorers (CLUE) began as a small team of engineers with a shared passion for maritime history. Today, CLUE is a multidisciplinary group of researchers, divers, and volunteers dedicated to locating, documenting, and preserving Ohio’s Lake Erie shipwrecks. For more than 25 years, the organization has combined technical diving, historical research, and archaeological documentation to better understand the region’s submerged heritage.

CLUE has partnered regularly with the National Museum of the Great Lakes since 2006, collaborating on projects including the recovery and conservation of the Cortland bell, now on display in NMGL’s Shipwrecks and Safety Gallery, as well as investigations into historic wrecks such as the Lake Serpent (1829), Anthony Wayne (1850), Sultan (1864), and Argo (1937). Through ongoing exploration and research, CLUE continues to advance the understanding of Lake Erie’s maritime past while honoring the stories preserved beneath its waters.

WHAT: CLUE Micro Exhibit

WHEN: February 18 – April 16, 2026 | Museum Hours 

WHERE: National Museum of the Great Lakes
1701 Front St., Toledo, OH 43605

ADMISSION: $14.00 (Museum Only) – Adults (18-64)
$12.00 (Museum Only) – Seniors (65+)
$8.00 (Museum Only) – Youth (6-17)
FREE – Children 5 and under, GLHS/NMGL Members

MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley Streichert Lovejoy, 419-460-8181