FORWARD shipwreck site (motor launch)
Why it's listed
Resting upright on the bed of Lake George in 37 to 42 feet of water, the Forward is the wreck of a 45-foot wooden motor launch built in 1906 by the Gas Engine & Power Co. and Charles L. Seabury & Co. in New York. Cold, dark water has kept roughly half of the hull intact, including its two 30 horsepower gasoline engines. Built for William K. Bixby, a St. Louis industrialist with a summer home at Bolton Landing, it served as a family excursion boat, raced in the 1906 Hague Regatta, and later carried sightseers. In 1929 it helped rescue passengers from the burning Miss Lake George. The launch sank or was abandoned in the 1930s. Listed for its association with Lake George's resort era, its rare early gasoline-powered design, and its research potential, the wreck is now a dive preserve with an underwater trail and information stations for scuba divers.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the wreck is a rare, well-preserved example of a first-generation gasoline-powered launch, linked to Lake George's era as a summer resort. It was built for industrialist William K. Bixby and later used as an excursion boat. The submerged remains may also yield information on hull design, propulsion technology and abandonment of watercraft.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 08001082, listed November 21, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Lake George (submerged) near Diamond Island, Lake George |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | November 21, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08001082 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1906 |
| Architect / builder | Gas Engine & Power Co. - Chas. Seabury & Co., New York, NY |
| Architectural style | OTHER: motor launch wreck |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Submerged wreck, about 40-50% of the hull intact, serving as the 'Forward Underwater Classroom' dive preserve in the state's Submerged Heritage Preserves. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.46044, -73.67071 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 08001082.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5473292
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.