List of shipwrecks of Oregon

This is a list of shipwrecks of Oregon. The location is the nearest modern community or primary landmark.

North coast

Ship FlagSunk DateNotesLocation
Santo Cristo de Burgos  Spain1693The Spanish galleon Santo Cristo de Burgos wrecked on Nehalem Spit en route from Manila to Acapulco, loaded with a cargo of beeswax. The existence of the wreck was recorded in native oral history, with descendants of survivors including Chief Kilchis. It is the earliest known shipwreck in the Pacific Northwest.[1][2][3]Nehalem
SS General Warren  United States30 January 1852A steamship that was grounded on Clatsop Spit and wrecked in heavy seasTillamook Head
Detroit 25 December 1855A brig that bumped ground putting out of the Columbia River. Crew abandoned ship after she took on 7 feet (210 cm) of water. Ship drifted south and ran aground at Tillamook Head.Tillamook Head
Brant 1862A schooner that was refloated.Tillamook
Millie Bond 13 November 1871A schooner that was wrecked on sand spit near Tillamook Bar. Refloated.[4]Barview
Lupatia 3 January 1881A barque that sunk with the loss of the 16 man crew. The only survivor was the ship's dog.[5][6]Tillamook Rock
Kate L. Heron 27 April 1881A schooner that was wrecked on Tillamook Bar. Parts washed up at Nehalem.Barview
Pilots Bride 1 August 1881A sloop that was stranded on Nestucca Bar.Pacific City
Carmarthen Castle 2 December 1886A barque that ran aground in Nestucca Bay.Pacific City
Queen of the Bay 11 November 1887A schooner that was wrecked at the mouth of the Nehalem River.Nehalem
Garcia 12 December 1893A schooner that was wrecked near Cape Meares Lighthouse.Cape Meares
Occident 12 March 1897A steam tug that sunk with the loss of all hands.Nehalem
Lila and Mattie 9 March 1900A schooner that was wrecked on Tillamook Bar.[7]Barview
Laguna 6 April 1900A steamship that went ashore on north spit of Tillamook Bar.[8] Refloated and towed back to San Francisco for repairs, but during a gale abandoned at a point ten miles SWW of Crescent City.[9] Ran aground on July 17 at the Klamath River for a total loss.Barview
Pioneer 17 December 1900The schooners remains can still be seen when erosion takes place.Pacific City
Charles H. Merchant 11 August 1902A schooner that was stranded on Nehalem Spit, refloated and scrapped.Manzanita
Gem 15 February 1904A schooner that ran aground on the beach near the Tillamook Bay north jetty.Barview
Peter Iredale  United Kingdom25 October 1906The barques remains can still be seen.Fort Stevens
Gerald C. 10 May 1907Wrecked on the north spit at the entrance to Nestucca harbor.Pacific City
Antelope 30 September 1907A schooner built 1887 in Benicia, CA for a salmon packer. Wrecked at Nehalem River.Nehalem
Emily Reed  United States14 February 1908A barque that was loaded with 2,100 tons of coal, the ship ran ashore and broke apart. The captain, his wife and seven crewmen survived, but eight died. Remains are occasionally seen after storms.Rockaway
Hill 17 June 1908A schooner wrecked at Nehalem Bar.Nehalem
Ida Schnauer 17 June 1908A schooner wrecked on Tillamook Bar. While waiting for tug into harbor, wind shifted and she was pushed ashore for a total loss.Barview
Argo #1 26 November 1909A steamship that struck the bar off the entrance to Tillamook Bay and foundered. Two crew and two passengers were drowned. Sister ship, the Argo #2, a river steamer, went down at Dixon Entrance in Alaska.Barview
Vida 28 April 1912A gas schooner that lost its rudder and broke into pieces on Tillamook Bar.Barview
George R. Vosberg 3 May 1912A steam tug that had its hull punctured by an underwater rock. The crew attempted to plug the hole with a spare fuel tank. Though the effort was ultimately futile, the crew was rescued.Nehalem
C.T. Hill 30 July 1912A schooner that was stranded on the south side of the Nehalem Bar. It was later salvaged.Nehalem
Mimi 13 February 1913A barque that later ran aground in fog on Nehalem Spit, then capsized in salvage operation, killing 17.Manzanita
Glenesslin 1 October 1913A square rig that sailed into the rocks at the base of Neahkahnie Mountain, on a clear day. All survived, but rocks penetrated the hull and little was salvaged. A naval court of inquiry ruled the cause was negligence.Neahkahnie Beach
Francis H. Leggett  United States18 September 1914A steam schooner that was lost in a gale due to being overloaded. Two survived, but the 60 who were lost make it the worst maritime disaster in Oregon history. The railroad ties that were its cargo were used for construction in Manzanita when they washed ashore. [10]Manzanita
Oakland 22 March 1916A schooner which was abandoned at sea. After running ashore, it was raised and renamed the Mary Hanlon. Ultimately lost off Mendocino, California.Manzanita
Life-Line  United States26 May 1923Foundered off Neahkahnie, washed ashore and covered by sand. Uncovered by a bulldozer in 1949.[11][12]Neahkahnie Beach
Venus 4 November 1923A gas schooner that capsized on Nestucca Bar. Captain Adolph Kangiser and his engineer made a swim for shore. The captain felt something tug him down. Kicking hard he managed to free himself. Upon reaching shore, he found part of his boot missing, though he himself was not injured.[13] The marks on the boots indicated a shark, making him the first shark attack victim in Oregon history.Pacific City
Phoenix 5 November 1923A gas schooner that capsized on Tillamook Bar. Four died.[14]Barview
Sea Island 7 February 1932Rum-Runner.Tillamook
Tyee 6 December 1940A tugboat that foundered off Tillamook Bar. The engine was ripped out, saving the crew by lightening the ship.Barview

Central coast

Ship FlagSunk DateNotesLocation
Samuel Roberts 6 August 1850SchoonerReedsport
Bostonian 1 October 1850Owned by a man named Gardiner, much of the vessel was salvaged and used in the building of the town of Gardiner, Oregon.Reedsport
Almira 9 January 1852BrigReedsport
Juliet March 1852Newport
Nassau 22 July 1852SchoonerReedsport
Roanoke 2 February 1853BrigReedsport
Joseph Warren 25 November 1853BarqueNewport
Fawn 21 November 1856BrigFlorence
Calumet 8 December 1856A schooner that was wrecked at Siletz River while offloading supplies for Indian Affairs. Captain B. Jennings. [15]Siletz Estuary (Nechesne)
Blanco 1864BrigLincoln City
Cornelia Terry 13 October 1864Oyster pirate schooner. Sank while being pursued by Annie G. Doyle.Newport
Ork 24 November 1864BarqueReedsport
Annie G. Doyle 11 March 1865A schooner that ran aground at nearly the same location as the pirate vessel Cornelia Terry, which it had pursued half a year prior.Newport
Enterprise 20 February 1873The sternwheelers engines were later salvaged and installed on the vessel BeaverReedsport
John Hunter 1873Newport
Meldon 16 March 1873SchoonerReedsport
Bobolink 00 October 1873The schooner was salvaged, but later lost at Mendocino, California.Reedsport
Sparrow 4 December 1875SchoonerReedsport
Lizzie 16 February 1876SchoonerNewport
Caroline Medeau 5 April 1876SchoonerNewport
Phil Sheridan 15 September 1878A schooner that was run into by the steamer Ancon.Reedsport
Olivia Schultze 28 April 1880SchoonerFlorence
Tacoma 29 January 1883SteamshipReedsport
Phoebe Fay 16 April 1883SchoonerNewport
Ona 26 September 1883Steam SchoonerNewport
Beda 17 March 1886Steam SchoonerYachats
Emma Utter December 1886Florence
Yaquina City 4 December 1887This steamship was the predecessor of the Yaquina Bay. Lost a year later at the same spot, effectively ruining the vessel owners, the Oregon Development Co.Newport
Yaquina Bay  United States9 December 1888Originally named Caracas. She was the sister ship of the SS Valencia and successor of the Yaquina Bay. Ran aground near the wreckage of the Yaquina City and was declared a total loss.Newport
Alaskan  United States13 May 1889While sailing to San Francisco from the Columbia River, the Alaskan ran into bad weather and the river going vessel began to fall apart from the stress off Cape Foulweather. Sidewheeler.Depoe Bay
Fearless 20 November 1889Formerly a brig named the Star of China. Ran aground in 1873, refloated, and converted into a tugboat. Loss not discovered until the next day when debris and one survivor washed ashore. However, he perished before he could reveal the final fate of the Fearless.Reedsport
Struan 25 December 1890A schooner that was constructed in John Fraser's shipyard on Courtney Bay in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1877[16][17]Tillamook
Maggie Ross 8 December 1891SteamshipNewport
St. Charles 17 May 1892Depoe Bay
Mary Gilbert 17 December 1894SchoonerWaldport
Bandorville 21 November 1895SteamshipReedsport
Volante 7 March 1896A steamship that burned in Yaquina Bay in Newport.Newport
Truckee 18 November 1897SteamshipReedsport
Atalanta 17 November 1898A clipper that ran into a reef while coasting along the shore.Seal Rock
Nettie Sundberg 28 December 1902SchoonerFlorence
Charles Nelson November 1903Steam SchoonerFlorence
Ocean Spray 20 November 1903SchoonerFlorence
Alice Kimball 12 Octember 1904SchoonerFlorence
Quickstep 24 November 1904BarquentineNewport
Bella 25 November 1905A schooner located just south of the south jetty at the mouth of the Siuslaw river. Often buried in sand; occasionally visible at low tides depending on sand movement.Florence
Alpha 3 February 1907SchoonerReedsport
Berwick 13 March 1908SchoonerFlorence
J. Marhoffer  United States22 April 1910A steam schooner that caught fire off Newport, and drifted north, eventually grounding at what is now Boiler Bay. Boiler Bay was named after the discarded boiler from the J. MarhofferDepoe Bay
Wilhelmina 22 January 1911Gas SchoonerReedsport
Pilgram 1912SloopNewport
Condor 17 November 1912Cargo shipWaldport
Frederick 14 April 1914BargeFlorence
Hugh Hogan 28 April 1914A schooner that was refloated and renamed as the Ozmo.Florence
Graywood 2 October 1915Steam SchoonerReedsport
Anvil 11 April 1917Florence
Washtucna 17 August 1922BargeReedsport
Admiral Nicholson 16 May 1924A steam schooner that ran aground while towing the disabled G.C. Lindauer.Reedsport
G.C. Lindauer 16 May 1924A steam schooner that had a history of wrecks prior to final loss at Reedsport. Came loose and lost soon after the towing Admiral Nicholson wrecked.Reedsport
Yaquina 20 February 1935Coast guard patrol boat. Lost while attempting to aid the crew of a barge caught on the Yaquina Bar.Newport
Parker #2 26 February 1935DredgeNewport
Dorothy Joan 13 September 1945Newport
Etta Kay 11 December 1946SchoonerNewport
John Aspin 22 April 1948As of 1986, portions of the cargo ships hull were still visible at low tide.Newport
Helori 21 December 1949Oil ScrewReedsport
L.H. Coolidge 20 August 1951A tugboat that ran aground at Bandon. While under tow to the Columbia River by the Salvage Chief, she came loose and sank of the coast at Yachats.Yachats
Captain Ludvig 25 June 1953Newport
Blue Magpie  Panama19 November 1983Cargo shipNewport
New Carissa  Philippines4 February 1999Half of the ship. This half was beached before being towed off and sunk by Navy. The other half is at Coos Bay. The ship broke apart at Coos Bay, with the rear portion drifting north.Waldport

South coast

Ship FlagSunk DateNotesLocation
Bandon 00 Jan 0000Grounded several times before being sold. SteamshipCoos Bay
Cohansa 00 Jan 0000Coos Bay
Echo 00 Jan 0000Refloated. SternwheelerBandon
Jackson 00 Jan 0000Coos Bay
New World 00 Jan 0000Coos Bay
W.L. Hackstaff August 1849Grounded at Rogue River. Survivors marched overland to the Willamette Valley. SchoonerGold Beach
Captain Lincoln 30 December 1851SchoonerCoos Bay
Anita 1852BarquePort Orford
Chansey May 1854Coos Bay
Quadratus 1856SchoonerCoos Bay
Friendship 1860BarqueSixes River
Baltimore 1861SchoonerCoos Bay
Cyclops 1862SchoonerCoos Bay
Energy 1862A brig with one survivorCoos bay
Noyo 1868Burned when her cargo of lime ignited.SchoonerCoos Bay
D.M. Hall 3 October 1868BarqueCoos Bay
Alaska December 1869SchoonerBandon
Ida D. Rogers 15 December 1869BrigCoos Bay
Commodore 1870SteamshipCoos Bay
Charles Devans February 1870BarqueCoos Bay
Occident 3 May 1870BarquentineBandon
Bunkalation July 1870SchoonerCape Blanco
Jenny Thelin 1874Refloated. Lost for good later at Punta Maria, California.Schooner
Laura May 1874SchoonerCoos Bay
Northwester 1875SchoonerGold Beach
Mary Schowner 1876SchoonerBandon
Messenger 1876SternwheelerCoos Bay
Harriet Rose 28 January 1876SchoonerPort Orford
Perpetua 24 October 1876Foundered in a gale offshore. BrigCoos Bay
Oregonian 16 January 1877SchoonerBandon
Esther Colos 21 October 1879SchoonerGold Beach
Gussie Telfair 25 September 1880Formerly a Confederate blockade runner named the Gertrude that had been captured. SteamshipCoos Bay
Victoria 28 November 1883SteamshipPort Orford / Cape Blanco
Mose 28 July 1884Port Orford
Escort 21 December 1886Sank in bay when its boiler exploded. TugboatCoos Bay
Dawn 3 February 1887Drifted for nine days before being towed into Coos Bay. However, abandoned due to the ship being waterlogged. ScowCoos Bay
Ocean King 26 December 1887Destroyed by on board fire. Cargo shipCape Blanco
Julia H. Ray 26 January 1889SchoonerCoos Bay
Parkersburg 18 November 1889Ran aground during storm attempting to enter Coquille River. SchoonerBandon
Rosalind 18 February 1890SchoonerGold Beach
Express 8 September 1891Destroyed by fire. SteamshipCoos bay
General Butler 8 December 1891Started breaking up 100 miles (160 km) offshore. Part of hull drifted north and ran aground at the Yaquina jetty. BarqueCoos bay / Cape Blanco
Charles W. Wetmore  United States8 September 1892Previously ran afoul of Columbia Bar after rudder came loose.[18] SteamshipCoos Bay
Emily 17 July 1893Repaired and renamed the Arago. The re-christened Arago sank at the same location. Steam SchoonerCoos Bay
T.W. Lucas 24 October 1894BrigPort Orford
Bawnmore 28 August 1895SteamshipBandon
Ella Laurena 18 December 1895Abandoned by crew during a storm. Found ran aground the next day. SchoonerCoos Bay
Arago 20 October 1896Struck bar previously in 1891 at same location. steamboatCoos Bay
Cyclone 1897Destroyed by fire prior to launch. Schooner
Moro 6 December 1897Gas schoonerBandon
Eureka 30 November 1899SchoonerBandon
Monterey 19 May 1900Salvaged and converted into a whaler. SchoonerCoos Bay
South Portland 19 October 1903SteamboatCape Blanco
Fulton 12 February 1904Port Orford
Western Home 13 November 1904SchoonerBandon
Del Norte 1905Collided with the vessel Sea Foam. Steam schoonerBandon
Onward 25 February 1905SchoonerBandon
Sacramento 15 October 1905SchoonerCoos Bay
Melanope December 1906Began as a Cape Horn windjammer in 1876, turned into a barge after damage at Cape Blanco in 1906. Sunk to form part of breakwater at Royston, British Columbia in 1946.[19]:14 BargeCape Blanco
Daisy 1907Destroyed by forest fire prior to launch. Schooner
Chinook 12 April 1907SchoonerCoos Bay
Novelty 20 September 1907SchoonerCoos Bay
Marconi 23 March 1909SchoonerCoos Bay
Czarina 12 January 1910SteamshipBandon
San Buenaventura 14 January 1910Abandoned. Final resting spot unknown. SchoonerCape Blanco
Washcalore 21 May 1911Oil SchoonerGold Beach
North Star #1 20 January 1912Motor LaunchCoos Bay
Osprey 1 November 1912Gas SchoonerCoos Bay
Advent 8 February 1913SchoonerCoos Bay
Randolph 15 April 1915Gas SchoonerBandon
Claremont 22 May 1915Steam SchoonerCoos Bay
Santa Clara 2 November 1915Formally named John S. Kimball and then James Dollar. Steam SchoonerCoos Bay
Fifield 21 February 1916Second ship named Fifield. Steam SchoonerBandon
Sinaloa 15 June 1917Gas SchoonerCape Blanco
Wallacut 3 November 1918BargeCoos Bay
Rustler 24 August 1919Destroyed by on board fire.
J. A. Chanslor  United States18 December 1919OilerCape Blanco
Adel 2 October 1920Coos Bay
Joan of Arc 15 November 1920SteamboatGold Beach
Ozmo 17 May 1922Originally christened as Hugh Hogan. SchoonerPort Orford
Sea Eagle 20 November 1822Wrecked while towing the vessel Ecola. The Ecola survived. TugboatCoos Bay
Brush 26 April 1923SteamshipCoos Bay
C.A. Smith 16 December 1923Steam SchoonerCoos Bay
Columbia 17 February 1924Steam SchoonerCoos Bay
Acme 31 October 1924Steam SchoonerBandon
Mary E. Moore 23 February 1927Steam SchoonerBandon
Sujameco 28 February 1929A steamboat that ran aground at Horsfall Beach in heavy fog missing Coos Bay entrance by a few miles. During WWII much of the hull was scrapped for iron. The wreck is partially visible each winter due to seasonal sand movement; more than usual emerged April 2010.[20]Coos Bay
Fort Bragg 14 September 1932Hit south jetty and ran aground inland. Steam SchoonerCoos Bay
E. L. Smith 1 January 1936Gas SchoonerBandon
Phyllis 9 March 1936Scuttled by captain after ship sprang a leak. Steam SchoonerPort Orford
Golden West 29 March 1936Cargo shipBandon
Golden Bear 1937Superstructure began to fall apart, incapacitating the ship and crew. Towed by the Active and converted into a barge. Now a part of a breakwater in British Columbia. Cargo shipCoos Bay
Cottoneva 10 February 1937Originally christened as Frank D. Stout. Steam SchoonerPort Orford
Willapa #2 2 December 1941Formerly christened Florence Olson. Crew saved by local fishermen. Steam SchoonerPort Orford
Camden 4 October 1942Torpedoed off Coos Bay by Japanese submarine I-25. Towed north by tug Kenai to attempt salvage. Sank off Grays Harbor several days later. OilerCoos Bay
Larry Doheny 5 October 1942Torpedoed and sank off Gold Beach by Japanese submarine I-25. OilerGold Beach
Susan Olson 15 November 1942Formerly named the Willamette and California. Steam SchoonerPort Orford
Y M S #133 21 February 1943A MinesweeperCoos Bay
George L. Olson 23 June 1944Formerly named the Ryder Hanify. Steam SchoonerCoos Bay
Alvarado 16 March 1945Steam SchoonerCoos Bay
Ida M. 23 September 1948Coos Bay
Alice H. 23 September 1950Port Orford
Helen E. September 1951A patrol boat that was grounded and burned.Coos Bay
Cynthia Olson 9 June 1952Salvaged by crew of the Salvage Chief and repaired. Sister ship of the Oliver Olson. Cargo ShipBandon
Oliver Olson 3 November 1953Filled with rocks and sank as extension of the south Coquille River jetty. Sister ship of the Cynthia Olson. Cargo shipBandon
Port of Pasco #510 12 December 1953BargeCoos Bay
Andrew Jackson 5 March 1954Gold Beach
New Carissa  Philippines4 February 1999After running aground, oil cargo was burned out. Half of the ship remained beached while the other half was taken out to sea and scuttled. Remaining half has since been scrapped. Cargo shipCoos Bay

Rivers

Ship FlagSunk DateNotesRiverLocation
Bully Washington 12 December 1857Filled in as the foundation of a dock. SteamshipUmpqua RiverScottsburg
Telephone 5 January 1892A steamship that struck the revetment on the eastern shore of Coon Island. Heavy fog prevented the pilot from seeing its red cautionary light. The 80 passengers and 30 crew members were all saved.[21][22]Multnomah Channel / Willamette RiverScappoose
Regulator 13 July 1898A steamship that was wrecked on the rocks. The 160 passengers and most of the freight were landed on the Oregon shore.[23] Towed in to drydock at Cascade Locks around September 1. The hull was found to be a "complete wreck."[24]Columbia RiverCascade Locks
Gypsy 11 June 1900Tore hole in bottom and sank in ten feet of water.[25] SteamshipWillamette RiverIndependence
Rogue River 16 November 1902Struck a rock at what is now known as either Boiler Rapid or Boiler Riffle. SternwheelerRogue RiverGold Hill
Welcome 13 November 1904 SternwheelerCoquille RiverMyrtle Point

See also

References

  1. Williams, Scott. "Beeswax shipwreck". The Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  2. "Beeswax Wreck Project". Maritime Archaeology Society. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  3. "Legendary Spanish galleon shipwreck discovered on Oregon coast". National Geographic. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  4. "Pacific Coast Dispatches: Oregon" (PDF). Daily Alta California (San Francisco, California). 18 November 1871. p. 1. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  5. "What a wreck!". cannonbeachgazette.com. Cannon Beach Gazette. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
  6. "Marine Disasters Off Coast: Another Shipwreck". Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 8 January 1881. p. 1.
  7. "Wreck of the Lila and Mattie at Tillamook". San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California). 12 Mar 1900. p. 3. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  8. "Laguna Still Aground". Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 14 April 1900. p. 10.
  9. "Laguna Wrecked Again". Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 21 July 1900. p. 5.
  10. "The Francis H. Leggett shipwreck". Cannon Beach History Center and Museum. 30 December 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  11. Marshall, Oregon Shipwrecks, at 97.
  12. "Boat Goes on Rocks; Two Swim to Shore". Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 28 May 1923. p. 1.
  13. "Gasoline Schooner Hurled Onto Beach". Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 5 Nov 1923. p. 1.
  14. "4 Men are Drowned in Schooner Wreck". Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 6 Nov 1923. p. 1.
  15. Hedges, Absalom B (17 December 1856). "Correspondence". Oregon Superintendency. Microfilm.
  16. "The Struan: From Saint John to Sandlake. - Oregon Historical Quarterly". HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on 2014-06-11. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
  17. Crichton, Whitcomb (1999). The Struan: From Saint John to Sandlake. Chelsea Green+ Publishing Co. ISBN 978-1551092874.
  18. "The Wrecked Whaleback". Evening Capital Journal (Salem, Oregon). 22 September 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  19. James, Rick (2004), The Ghost Ships of Royston, Vancouver: Underwater Archaeological Society of British Columbia, ISBN 0-9695010-9-9
  20. "Shipwreck emerges from sand near Coos Bay". KATU. April 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  21. "The Telephone Sunk". Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). 6 January 1892. p. 1.
  22. "Telephone is Raised". Evening Capital Journal (Salem, Oregon). 15 January 1892. p. 1. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  23. "Regulator Wrecked". Daily Capital Journal (Salem, Oregon). 14 July 1898. p. 3. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  24. "Regulator Raised". Daily Capital Journal (Salem, Oregon). 2 Sep 1898. p. 1. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  25. "Gypsy Sunk". Daily Journal (Salem, Oregon). 12 June 1900. p. 1. Retrieved 28 December 2012.

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