Shipwrecks in USA National Registry of Historic Places

Submarine and Undersea Postings | USA | Wreck

As of December 4, 1990, there were 142 shipwrecks (and hulks) listed in or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Where known, the popular name; vessel name, if different from the popular name; type of vessel; date of construction; wreck date and location; owner; manager, if different from the owner; and level of historical significance of these shipwrecks are listed below. As required by section 6(b) of the Act, the public is hereby given notice that, under the Act, the U.S. Government has asserted title to the abandoned shipwrecks listed below and transferred its title to the respective States in or on whose submerged lands the shipwrecks are located, except for shipwrecks in or on public and Indian lands. The U.S. Government retains its title to shipwrecks in or on the public lands of the United States while Indian tribes hold title to those in or on Indian lands.

This is a long list so it may be easier to browse by state:

Connecticut

Guam

Mississippi

North Carolina

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Virgin Islands

U.S.S. Tecumseh. This iron hulled Union monitor, built in 1863 and sunk in 1864, is entitled to sovereign immunity. The intact wreck is buried in 29 feet of water in Mobile Bay near Mobile. Owned by the U.S. Government, General Services Administration. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Lieut. C. V. Donaldson. The hulk of this wooden hulled steamer lies on the shoreline at Belmont Point near Nome. Built in 1907, she was laid up in 1955. Privately owned. Listed in the National Register is nationally significant.

Charles H. Spencer. This wooden hulled stern-wheel steamer, built in 1911, lies in 20 feet of water near the shoreline of the Colorado River near Lees Ferry, within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as regionally significant.

City of Rio de Janeiro. This iron hulled steamer, built in 1878, was wrecked in 1901 off Point Diablo near San Francisco. The intact wreck lies in 320 feet of water just off the Golden Gate. Owned by the State of California, State Lands Commission. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

King Philip. The remains of this wooden hulled clipper, built in 1856, are buried on Ocean Beach in San Francisco, within Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

King Street Ship. This wooden hulled whaler named Lydia, built in 1840, was laid up in 1907. Remains of this shipwreck are buried at the foot of King Street in San Francisco. Owned by the city and county of San Francisco. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Reporter. The scattered remains of this wooden hulled schooner, built in 1876, are intermingled with the remains of King Philip and are buried in 5 feet of water on Ocean Beach in San Francisco, within Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Stamboul. The remains of this wooden hulled whaler, built in 1843, are buried in 6 feet of water at the foot of 12th Street in Benicia, within Matthew Turner Shipyard Park. Owned by the city of Benicia. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Tennessee. The scattered remains of this wooden hulled side-wheel steamer, built in 1848 and wrecked in 1853, are buried in 10 feet of water in the Tennessee Cove near Marin City, within Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Owned jointly by the U.S. Government, National Park Service, and the State of California, State Lands Commission. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

William Gray. This wooden hulled packet ship, built in 1827, was sunk in 1852 for use as a wharf. The hulk is buried beneath Battery and Greenwich Streets in San Francisco. Privately owned. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Winfield Scott. The scattered remains of this wooden hulled side-wheel steamer, built in 1850 and wrecked off Anacapa Island, are buried in 25 feet of water in Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary. Owned by the State of California, State Lands Commission. Managed jointly by the U.S. Government, National Park Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Connecticut

Berkshire No. 7. The intact remains of this steel and wooden canal barge, built in 1935, lie in 20 feet of water in Bridgeport Harbor. Privately owned. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Elmer S. Dailey. The intact remains of this wooden Erie Canal barge, built in 1915, lie in 20 feet of water in Bridgeport Harbor. Privately owned. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Priscilla Dailey. The intact remains of this wooden Champlain Canal barge, built in 1929, lie in 20 feet of water in Bridgeport Harbor. Privately owned. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

State of Pennsylvania. This steel hulled passenger steamship was built in 1923. Her intact hulk lies in 5 feet of water on the shore of the Christina River near Wilmington. Privately owned. Listed in the National Register as locally significant.

Barge Site. Remains of this wooden barge are buried in Biscayne National Park. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as part of an archeological district, level of historical significance of this wreck is undetermined.

Boiler Site. This wooden vessel, named St. Lucie, was built in 1888 and wrecked in 1906. Remains of this shipwreck are scattered on the bottomlands of Biscayne National Park. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as part of an archeological district, level of historical significance of this wreck is undetermined.

Hubbard. Scattered remains of this wooden Colonial merchant vessel, wrecked in 1772, lie in 20 feet of water in Elliot Key in Biscayne National Park. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as part of an archeological district, this wreck is nationally significant.

Jordan's Ballast Showing Site. Remains of this wooden vessel are buried in Biscayne National Park. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as part of an archeological district, level of historical significance of this wreck is undetermined.

Keel Showing Site. Remains of this wooden vessel are buried in Biscayne National Park. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as part of an archeological district, level of historical significance of this wreck is undetermined.

Legare Anchorage Shipwreck. This wooden British merchant vessel, named H.M.S. Fowey, wrecked in 1748. Her scattered remains are buried in Biscayne National Park. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as part of an archeological district, this wreck is nationally significant.

Pillar Dollar Wreck. Scattered remains of this wooden vessel are buried in 20 feet of water in Biscayne National Park near Homestead. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as part of an archeological district, this wreck is nationally significant.

C.S.S. Chattahoochee. The scattered remains of this Confederate States Navy wooden gunboat, built and sunk in 1863, are buried in 15 feet of water in an area encompassed by the Confederate Naval Museum in Columbus; the excavated stern is deposited in the museum. This wreck is entitled to sovereign immunity. Owned jointly by the U.S. Government, General Services Administration (which owns the unexcavated remains), and the city of Columbus (which owns the excavated stern). Managed by the city of Columbus. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

C.S.S. Georgia. The scattered remains of this Confederate States Navy ironclad battery are buried in 28 feet of water in the Savannah River near Savannah. Built in 1862 and sunk in 1864, this wreck is entitled to sovereign immunity. Owned by the U.S. Government, General Services Administration. Managed by the U.S. Government, Army Corps of Engineers. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

C.S.S. Jackson. This Confederate States Navy ironclad gunboat (ex-Muscogee), built in 1863 and sunk in 1865, has been completely excavated; the excavated remains are deposited in the Confederate Naval Museum in Columbus. Owned by the city of Columbus. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Guam

Aratama Maru. The scattered remains of this steel hulled freighter lie in 50 feet of water in Talofofo Bay. Built in 1938, this vessel was being used by the Japanese Navy as a transport when it sank in 1944, giving it sovereign immunity. Owned by the Japanese Government. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

S.M.S. Cormoran. This intact steel hulled steamer (ex-S.S. Rajasan) lies in 120 feet of water in outer Apra Harbor near Piti, within the waters of the U.S. naval station. Built in 1909, this ship was being used as a German commerce raider when it was scuttled by its crew in 1917 to avoid capture, giving it sovereign immunity. Owned by the German Government. Listed in the National Register as regionally significant.

Tokai Maru. This intact steel hulled passenger and cargo ship lies in 120 feet of water in outer Apra Harbor near Piti, within the waters of the U.S. naval station. Built in 1930, this ship was being used by the Japanese Navy when it sank in 1943, giving it sovereign immunity. Owned by the Japanese Government. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

U.S.S. Arizona. This U.S. battleship, which is entitled to sovereign immunity, was sunk on December 7, 1941, in Pearl Harbor. The intact vessel lies in the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in 38 feet of water. Owned by the U.S. Government, Department of the Navy. Managed by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as a National Historic Landmark.

U.S.S. Utah. This U.S. battleship, which is entitled to sovereign immunity, was sunk on December 7, 1941, in Pearl Harbor. The intact vessel is in 25 to 50 feet of water near Honolulu. Owned by the U.S. Government, Department of the Navy. Listed in the National Register as a National Historic Landmark.

Muskegon. The remains of this wooden hulled side-wheel steamer (ex-Peerless) lie in 30 feet of water in Lake Michigan near Michigan City. She was built in 1872 and wrecked in 1911. Owned by the State of Indiana. Listed in the National Register as regionally significant.

Cora F. Cressy. The intact hulk of this wooden hulled schooner lies on the shoreline of Keene Narrows near Bremen. Built in 1902, she was sunk as a breakwater. Privately owned. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Defence. The remains of this wooden hulled Revolutionary War period brigantine lie buried in 23 feet of water in Stockton Springs Harbor. Built in 1778 and sunk in 1779 while privateering, this wreck is entitled to sovereign immunity. Owned by the U.S. Government, Department of the Navy. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Hesper. At high tide, the intact hulk of this wooden hulled schooner lies in 8 feet of water off the waterfront of Water Street in Wiscasset. She was built in 1918 and laid up in 1936. Privately owned. Listed in the National Register as part of an archeological district, this wreck is nationally significant.

Luther Little. The intact hulk of this wooden hulled freight schooner lies in 8 feet of water off the waterfront of Water Street in Wiscasset. She was built in 1917 and laid up in 1936. Privately owned. Listed in the National Register as part of an archeological district, this wreck is nationally significant.

Algoma. The scattered remains of this steel hulled freighter lie in 50 feet of water near Isle Royale in Lake Superior, within Isle Royale National Park. She was built in 1883 and wrecked in 1885. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

America. This intact steel hulled freighter lies in 50 feet of water near Isle Royale in Lake Superior, within Isle Royale National Park. She was built in 1898 and wrecked in 1928. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Chester A. Congdon. This intact steel hulled freighter lies in 50 feet of water near Isle Royale in Lake Superior, within Isle Royale National Park. The vessel (ex-Salt Lake City) was built in 1907 and wrecked in 1918. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Cumberland. The scattered remains of this wooden hulled side-wheel freighter lie in 20 to 150 feet of water near Isle Royale in Lake Superior, within Isle Royale National Park. She was built in 1871 and wrecked in 1877. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Emperor. This intact, steel hulled freighter lies in 50 to 170 feet of water near Isle Royale in Lake Superior, within Isle Royale National Park. She was built in 1910 and wrecked in 1947. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

George M. Cox. The scattered remains of this steel hulled freighter (ex-Puritan) lie in 90 feet of water near Isle Royale in Lake Superior, within Isle Royale National Park. She was built in 1901 and wrecked in 1933. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Glenlyon. The scattered remains of this steel hulled freighter (ex-William H. Gratwick) lie in 60 feet of water near Isle Royale in Lake Superior, within Isle Royale National Park. She was built in 1893 and wrecked in 1924. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Henry Chisholm. The scattered remains of this wooden hulled freighter lie in 50 feet of water near Isle Royale in Lake Superior, within Isle Royale National Park. Built in 1880 and wrecked in 1898. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Indiana. This intact, wooden hulled freighter lies in 125 feet of water near Paradise in Lake Superior, within Thunder Bay Bottomland Preserve. She was built in 1848 and wrecked in 1858. Owned by the State of Michigan, Department of Natural Resources. Determined eligible for the National Register as nationally significant.

Kamloops. This intact, steel hulled freighter lies in 180 to 260 feet of water near Isle Royale in Lake Superior, within Isle Royale National Park. She was built in 1924 and wrecked in 1927. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Monarch. The scattered remains of this wooden hulled freighter lie in 20 to 70 feet of water near Isle Royale in Lake Superior, within Isle Royale National Park. She was built in 1890 and wrecked in 1906. Owned by the U.S. Government, National Park Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Mississippi

Star of the West. This wooden hulled side-wheel steamer, built in 1852, was used by the Confederate States Navy. Renamed the C.S.S. Philip, the vessel was sunk in the Tallahatchie River near Greenwood in 1862 to create an obstacle to navigation against the Union. This shipwreck, which is entitled to sovereign immunity, is owned by the U.S. Government, General Services Administration. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Bertrand. The remains of this wooden stern-wheel steamboat lie in 15 feet of water at De Soto Bend in the Missouri River, near Blair, in the De Soto Wildlife Refuge. She was built in 1864 and sunk in 1865. Owned by the U.S. Government, Fish and Wildlife Service. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Alexander Hamilton. The hulk of this steel hulled side-wheel steamer lies in 10 feet of water in New York Harbor near Earle. Built in 1924, she was laid up in 1977 in the Hudson River. Owned by the State of New Jersey. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Archeological Site #1. The remains of this wooden hulled vessel are buried in 5 feet of water in Barges Creek near Hamilton Township. Owned by the State of New Jersey. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Bead Wreck. The scattered remains of this wooden vessel are buried in 12 feet of water in the Mullica River near Chestnut Neck. Owned by the State of New Jersey. Listed in the National Register as nationally significant.

Bessie M. Dustin. The remains of this wooden schooner are on the shore of Shooter's Island in New York Harbor. Built in 1918, this vessel was laid up in 1936. Owned by the State of New York. Determined eligible for the National Register as nationally significant.

H.M.S. Culloden. The intact remains of this wooden British man-of-war lie on the bottomlands of Fort Pond Bay. Built in 1776 and sunk in 1781, this vessel is entitled to sovereign immunity. Owned by the British Government. Listed in the National Register, level of historical significance is undetermined.

Hoffmans. The hulk of this wooden covered barge, built in 1907, lies on the shore of Shooter's Island in New York Harbor. Owned by the State of New York. Determined eligible for the National Register as nationally significant.

Jacob A. Decker. The hulk of this wooden barge, built in 1930, lies on the shore of Shooter's Island in New York Harbor. Owned by the State of New York. Determined eligible for the National Register as nationally significant.

Keating. The hulk of this wooden barge, built in 1912, lies on the shore of Shooter's Island in New York Harbor. Owned by the State of New York. Determined eligible for the National Register as nationally significant.

Minerva. The hulk of this wooden, side-wheel steamer (ex-Jane Moseley) lies in 10 feet of water near the shore of Shooter's Island in New York Harbor. Built in 1873, this vessel was laid up and dismantled in 1932. Owned by the State of New York. Determined eligible for the National Register as nationally significant.

Vessel 28. The hulk of this wooden tugboat lies on the shore of Shooter's Island in New York Harbor. Owned by the State of New York. Determined eligible for the National Register as nationally significant.

Vessel 30. The hulk of this wooden tugboat lies on the shore of Shooter's Island in New York Harbor. Owned by the State of New York. Determined eligible for the National Register as nationally significant.

Vessel 34. The hulk of this wooden tugboat lies on the shore of Shooter's Island in New York Harbor. Owned by the State of New York. Determined eligible for the National Register as nationally significant.

Vessel 37. The hulk of this wooden, covered barge lies on the shore of Shooter's Island in New York Harbor. Owned by the State of New York. Determined eligible for the National Register as nationally significant.