Maritime Heritage Resources
NOAA is legally responsible for the management of maritime heritage resources within national marine sanctuary boundaries. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries considers maritime heritage resources as archaeological, cultural, and historical properties as defined by the National Historic Preservation Act. Sanctuary stewardship responsibilities include a mandate to inventory sites, encourage research, provide public education, and oversee responsible visitor use.
Hundreds of shipwrecks have occurred in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and were a result of the significant maritime exploration and commerce that historically occurred in the region, coupled with a coastline dotted with shallow, rocky headlands, largely exposed to prevailing winds, storms, and fog. You can view a database of all known losses or explore the list of profiled shipwrecks below.
Click on a vessel name to view more information about one of the shipwreck profiles below.
Active
The 98-foot schooner Active ran ashore at Lighthouse Point, Santa Cruz after experiencing rough weather on October 26, 1876.
Babinda
The 269-foot wooden motorship Babinda caught fire on March 3, 1923 off Santa Cruz, then drifted south and sank off Point Sur.
Carrier Pigeon
The captain of 162-foot medium clipper ship Carrier Pigeon mistakenly steered toward the coastline in thick fog, and drifted onto jagged shallow shore on June 6, 1853.
Casco
The 161-foot steam schooner Casco, caught in strong gale winds, struck submerged rock north of Port San Luis on June 27, 1913.
Celia
The 118-foot steam schooner Celia stranded in foggy weather off Point Pinos on Aug 28, 1906.
Flavel
Routing too close to shore in the fog, the steam schooner Flavel wrecked near Cypress Point on December 14, 1923.
Gipsy
The 102-foot steam schooner Gipsy hauled freight and people along the California coast for 36 years, otherwise known as “Old Perpetual Motion.”
Harlech Castle
The 172-foot British bark Harlech Castle struck sunken rocks during thick fog off Point Piedras Blancas on August 29, 1869.
J.B. Stetson
The 181-foot steam schooner J.B. Stetson experienced heavy fog off the Monterey Peninsula and grounded off Cypress Point on September 3, 1934.
La Feliz
The 72-foot steam freighter La Feliz wrecked against rocky outcropping off Santa Cruz on October 1, 1924.
Macon
The 785-foot airship Macon and four Curtiss Sparrowhawk biplanes foundered off Point Sur during a storm on February 12, 1935.
Sierra Nevada
The side-wheel steamer Sierra Nevada grounded upon rock in thick fog near San Simeon on October 17, 1869.
Sir John Franklin
The medium American clipper ship Sir John Franklin went ashore in the fog on January 17, 1865.
St. Paul
The 198-foot passenger cargo steamer barkentine St. Paul experienced thick fog and ultimately struck a rocky reef south of Point Pinos on Aug 8, 1896.
Umpqua 11
The 240-foot freight barge Umpqua 11 ran aground near Moss Landing on July 10, 1982, and was soon after towed offshore and scuttled.
William H. Smith
The five-masted schooner William H. Smith was used for cargo and passenger service, and had a record of 18 round-the-world cruises.
Database of Known Losses
There may be hundreds of vessels for which no written record exists, but whose archaeological remains lie within the sanctuary. A database of known losses is available for reference.