If you own a drone and are going to be in Bismarck, North Dakota, anytime soon, you may want to consider making a trip to the Steckel boat ramp near Wilton. Drought conditions and low water levels on the Missouri River have revealed a nearly 130-year-old shipwreck some 25 miles north of Bismarck, and you should be able to capture stunning aerial footage of the same.
The Abner O’Neal was a steamboat that was built in 1884 for transporting freight and passengers. According to the State Historical Society of North Dakota, the Abner O’Neal was transporting 9,000 bushels of wheat on July 17, 1892, when it struck a submerged rock and began to sink. The crew attempted to patch the hole, but the damage was too extensive and the steamboat quickly went down in 8-to-10 feet of water.
The wreck of the Abner O’Neal was salvaged after the sinking, with the superstructure and paddle wheel removed. But much of the hull of the wreck has remained intact since.
The…
