Wayzata Bay Wreck is a wooden barge that sank in Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, in 1879. It is located in Wayzata Bay about underwater. The wreck was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
The barge was built in 1876 and measured long and wide. It was owned by James J. Hill, founder of the Great Northern Railway. The barge was used to haul cordwood and lumber from the shores of Lake Minnetonka to rail terminals.
On September 30, 1879, a storm struck the lake and the barge sank in Wayzata Bay. It was left on the lake bottom and never recovered.
The wreck was found in 2011 by Maritime Heritage Minnesota during a survey of Lake Minnetonka. It lies about below the surface, encased in silt. The cold freshwater and mud preserved the wooden hull, making it the best-preserved of three known model barge wrecks in the United States.
Maritime Heritage Minnesota documented the wreck using sonar and underwater photography. Divers recorded hull details and cargo remains. The site is protected under state law, and removal of artifacts is prohibited. The National Register listing helps preserve the wreck and supports historical research.
The wreck is the oldest known shipwreck in Lake Minnetonka and the only complete model barge wreck in the United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. The listing was funded by a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant.