Brookhill Shipwreck

The Brookhill is a double-hulled ferry that operated on the Mississippi River from 1896 to 1915. Approximately 100 feet long and 30-40 feet wide, the ferry carried passengers and cargo between Baton Rouge and Port Allen, Louisiana. The Istrouma served as the day ferry, while the Brookhill operated at night. A severe storm in 1915, possibly a hurricane, struck Baton Rouge the evening of September 29, sinking both ferryboats.

Brookhill Aerial by Forte and Tablada

Although previously documented as an archaeological site, in the fall of 2022, the Mississippi River dropped low enough to expose what remains of the Brookhill.  With the water level low enough to see the shipwreck for an extended period of time, researchers studied the remains of the Brookhill to learn more about this local ferry.

Keelson Scarf Joint, Allen Saltus

Use the webviewer below to get a close-up view of the Brookhill online:

©2023 Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism