Hannah Damon, director of outreach at Camp Amnicon Adventures, uncovered the 1923-built tugboat AH Pitz wreck near the mouth of the Amnicon River in Wisconsin on March 15, 2024, while playing with her nine‑year‑old son.
The 70‑foot‑long steam‑powered tugboat, sunk in 1952 after being run aground and set ablaze, lies partially buried beneath shallow water. Its wooden hull and metal beams are still visible when water levels drop, a rare glimpse into a 70‑year‑old maritime relic.
Damon had spent twelve years at the camp, hearing stories about the wreck from staff and campers, yet she had never seen it before. Her video, shared on Facebook, captured the moment she first saw the cables and beams, and she described the discovery as “amazing.”
Local residents remember the wreck standing above water in the early 1950s. A former camper from the camp’s inaugural year, 1951, recalled seeing the tugboat before it sank deeper a few years later. The community’s memory confirms the site’s long‑known existence.
Wisconsin Shipwrecks has confirmed the identification, and the wreck will be added to the state’s historic registry. Preservation experts plan to conduct a detailed survey, and the site is expected to draw divers and history enthusiasts in the coming months.
Damon’s son, who watched the discovery unfold, said the moment felt like “landing a hidden treasure.” The find has sparked excitement among local families, many of whom have grown up near the river and now see a tangible link to their coastal heritage.