Constructed in 1861 by shipwright Ira Laffrinier and lost in 1871, the Major Anderson is one of only two known barkentines in Wisconsin waters. A barkentine is a type of sailing vessel, one of the least common of the Great Lakes sailing vessels, and is defined by having three or more masts with specific sail rigging on each mast. The fore and mainmasts were square-rigged. The mizzen mast was fore- and- aft rigged. Of the sails that were fore- and aft- rigged, they usually had a gaff-rigged spanker and gaff-topsail. Additionally, barkentines carried a variety of jibs and headsails on their foremast, main staysails and gaff-topsails. The Major Anderson, typical of this vessel type, carried three masts. Much of our understanding of this vessel type has come from archaeological data recovered from wreck sites like the Major Anderson.

The Major Anderson carried coal and lumber as well as corn and wheat and is representative of a vessel type that was vital to Wisconsin's economy and the economy of the Midwest through maritime bulk cargo transportation, and infrastructure prior to the development of road and rail networks. She serviced the Great Lakes region from the time of the Civil War, through the height of the lumber boom, and was lost in the smoke from the vast regional forest fires and gales which are attributed to the Great Chicago and Peshtigo Fires.
More information on Wisconsin's historic shipwrecks may be found by visiting Wisconsin's Maritime Trails website.