Shipwreck Trail, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Within Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary lie nine historic shipwrecks that are interpreted for the public as a Shipwreck Trail. Together the shipwrecks tell important stories from maritime history. Some of the shipwrecks are in shallow water accessible to snorkelers while others are in deep water and suitable for advanced scuba divers. Boat moorings at the shipwrecks facilitate access and dive slates orient visitors.

City of Washington

John Roach and Sons of Chester, Pennsylvania built City of Washington in 1877. The 300-foot vessel was a hybrid of shipbuilding technology having masts for sails and two compound steam engines. Purchased to carry cargo and passengers between East Coast and Caribbean ports, City of Washington connected New York, Havana, Cuba, and Mexico for nearly 40 years. City of Washington even played an active role in the short-lived Spanish-American war in 1898. Worn-out and no longer economically viable, City of Washington was converted into a barge. On July 10, 1917, while being towed south with a coal cargo, City of Washington grounded on Elbow Reef in 25 feet of water and was a total loss.

Benwood

The 360-foot Benwood was built in England in 1910 for use as a merchant marine freighter for transatlantic commerce. During World War II, rumors of German U-boats stalking the sea lanes off the Keys caused vessels to travel at night without lights. After leaving Tampa, Florida, Benwood was steaming off the Upper Florida Keys on the night of April 9, 1942 when it collided with another ship. The impact crushed Benwood’s bow causing it to flood. Its captain turned the steamship towards shore where it sank. Today the site is a popular dive location offshore of French Reef in depths of 25 to 45 feet.

Duane

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Duane was built at the U.S. Navy Yard in Philadelphia in 1936. Named after William J. Duane, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, the 327-foot vessel was one of seven cutters in its class built in the 1930’s. Duane’s outstanding military record includes both wartime and peacetime operations spanning nearly 40 years. After being decommissioned on August 1, 1985, as the oldest active U.S. military vessel, Duane was donated to the Keys Association of Dive Operators for use as an artificial reef. On November 27, 1987, Duane sank upright on a sandy bottom in 120 feet of water off of Key Largo. Duane is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Eagle

The 287-foot steel hulled freighter known as Eagle was built by Werf-Gorinchem of Holland in 1962 and christened Raila Dan. During the vessel’s useful lifetime it had several owners and seven name changes including Arron-K. On October 6, 1985 the vessel caught fire and was declared a total loss. The Florida Keys Artificial Reef Association purchased it to use as an artificial reef. Partial funding for the project was supported by the owner of Eagle Tire Company, in exchange for the vessel retaining the Eagle namesake. On the night of December 19, 1985, while waiting on site to be sunk, Eagle broke free from its offshore mooring, the port anchor was deployed to prevent further drifting. Shortly afterward the vessel sank to the ocean floor onto its starboard side in 110 feet of water three miles northeast of Alligator Reef Light.

San Pedro

San Pedro, a member of the 1733 Spanish treasure fleet caught by a hurricane in the Straits of Florida, sank in 18 feet of water one mile south of Indian Key. She is the oldest shipwreck on the Shipwreck Trail with the mystique of a Spanish treasure shipwreck to draw divers and snorklers alike.

Adelaide Baker (Cluster A)

The 153-foot wooden vessel Adelaide Baker was built in Bangor Maine in 1863. The three-masted vessel had iron rigging, a double-decked wooden hull, and was sheathed with copper. Originally named F.W. Carver, the vessel’s name was later changed when it was sold to a British company.

Adelaide Baker (Cluster B)

Cluster B: Located approximately 1,000 feet west of Cluster A, the dominant feature at this location is the vessel’s iron main mast measuring 77 feet long. Other iron rigging components lie around the mast as does a bilge pump and deck fittings.

Thunderbolt

The 189-foot former military vessel was built by Marietta Manufacturing Company for the U.S. Army at West Point, West Virginia in 1942. Originally named USAMP Randolph after Major General Wallace F. Randolph, the ship was built to plant and tend defensive coastal minefields during World War II. After being decommissioned, Florida Power and Light (FP&L) purchased the vessel and used it for researching the electrical energy in lightning strikes, thus its new name Thunderbolt. FP&L donated Thunderbolt to the Florida Keys Artificial Reef Association who sank it on March 6, 1986. The vessel is upright and intact on a sand bottom in 120 feet of water four miles south of Marathon.

North America

Although not confirmed, this shipwreck may be North America, a 130-foot wooden square-rigged sailing vessel built in Bath, Maine, in 1833. Carrying dry goods and furniture enroute from New York to Mobile Alabama the vessel was lost on a reef in the Florida Keys on November 25, 1842. Only sections of the lower hull can be seen above the sandy bottom, while the main structure is covered with ballast stones. The vessel rests in 14-feet of water in the sand and grass flats north of Delta Shoals, just east of Sombrero Light.

Amesbury

The 306-foot Amesbury, locally known as Alexander’s Wreck, was built at the Boston Navy Yard in 1943. Amesbury (DE 66) was launched as a U.S. Naval destroyer escort and later converted to a high-speed transport vessel and assigned hull #APD-46. Amesbury was named in honor of Lieutenant Stanton Morgan Amesbury who was killed in action in 1942. Amesbury participated in the Invasion of Normandy in 1944, and supported landings in Korea and China during 1945 with Underwater Demolitions Team Twelve. Decommissioned 1946 and placed on reserve status, Amesbury never saw service again. The vessel was sold in 1960 to Chet Alexander Marine Salvage of Key West. On the way to a deep water resting place, it prematurely sank in 25 feet of water five miles west of Key West.

City of Washington

John Roach and Sons of Chester, Pennsylvania built City of Washington in 1877. The 300-foot vessel was a hybrid of shipbuilding technology having masts for sails and two compound steam engines. Purchased to carry cargo and passengers between East Coast and Caribbean ports, City of Washington connected New York, Havana, Cuba, and Mexico for nearly 40 years. City of Washington even played an active role in the short-lived Spanish-American war in 1898. Worn-out and no longer economically viable, City of Washington was converted into a barge. On July 10, 1917, while being towed south with a coal cargo, City of Washington grounded on Elbow Reef in 25 feet of water and was a total loss.

Depth: 25 feet Latitude: 25.146433; Longitude: -80.2559

Benwood

The 360-foot Benwood was built in England in 1910 for use as a merchant marine freighter for transatlantic commerce. During World War II, rumors of German U-boats stalking the sea lanes off the Keys caused vessels to travel at night without lights. After leaving Tampa, Florida, Benwood was steaming off the Upper Florida Keys on the night of April 9, 1942 when it collided with another ship. The impact crushed Benwood’s bow causing it to flood. Its captain turned the steamship towards shore where it sank. Today the site is a popular dive location offshore of French Reef in depths of 25 to 45 feet.

Depth: 45 feet Latitude: 25.0524; Longitude: -80.332167

Duane

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Duane was built at the U.S. Navy Yard in Philadelphia in 1936. Named after William J. Duane, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, the 327-foot vessel was one of seven cutters in its class built in the 1930’s. Duane’s outstanding military record includes both wartime and peacetime operations spanning nearly 40 years. After being decommissioned on August 1, 1985, as the oldest active U.S. military vessel, Duane was donated to the Keys Association of Dive Operators for use as an artificial reef. On November 27, 1987, Duane sank upright on a sandy bottom in 120 feet of water off of Key Largo. Duane is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Depth: 120 feet Latitude: 24.9898; Longitude: -80.381467

Eagle

The 287-foot steel hulled freighter known as Eagle was built by Werf-Gorinchem of Holland in 1962 and christened Raila Dan. During the vessel’s useful lifetime it had several owners and seven name changes including Arron-K. On October 6, 1985 the vessel caught fire and was declared a total loss. The Florida Keys Artificial Reef Association purchased it to use as an artificial reef. Partial funding for the project was supported by the owner of Eagle Tire Company, in exchange for the vessel retaining the Eagle namesake. On the night of December 19, 1985, while waiting on site to be sunk, Eagle broke free from its offshore mooring, the port anchor was deployed to prevent further drifting. Shortly afterward the vessel sank to the ocean floor onto its starboard side in 110 feet of water three miles northeast of Alligator Reef Light.

Depth: 110 feet Latitude: 24.869733; Longitude: -80.570283

San Pedro

San Pedro, a member of the 1733 Spanish treasure fleet caught by a hurricane in the Straits of Florida, sank in 18 feet of water one mile south of Indian Key. She is the oldest shipwreck on the Shipwreck Trail with the mystique of a Spanish treasure shipwreck to draw divers and snorklers alike.

Depth: 18 feet Latitude: 24.863367; Longitude: -80.679667

Adelaide Baker (Cluster A)

The 153-foot wooden vessel Adelaide Baker was built in Bangor Maine in 1863. The three-masted vessel had iron rigging, a double-decked wooden hull, and was sheathed with copper. Originally named F.W. Carver, the vessel’s name was later changed when it was sold to a British company.

On January 28, 1889, Adelaide Baker was loaded with timber and bound for Savannah, Georgia when it struck Coffins Patch Reef. There was no loss of life, but the ship could not be saved. The wreckage scattered across a quarter mile area, and can be found in two Clusters – A and B.

Cluster A: Cluster A is most likely the closest place to where the vessel struck the reef. Irregular shaped granite rocks weighing 10-20 pounds are concentrated in this area with iron fittings and part of its mizzen mast.

Depth: 20 feet Latitude: 24.702333; Longitude: -80.892667

Adelaide Baker (Cluster B)

Cluster B: Located approximately 1,000 feet west of Cluster A, the dominant feature at this location is the vessel’s iron main mast measuring 77 feet long. Other iron rigging components lie around the mast as does a bilge pump and deck fittings.

Depth: 20 feet Latitude: 24.702917; Longitude: -80.8945

Thunderbolt

The 189-foot former military vessel was built by Marietta Manufacturing Company for the U.S. Army at West Point, West Virginia in 1942. Originally named USAMP Randolph after Major General Wallace F. Randolph, the ship was built to plant and tend defensive coastal minefields during World War II. After being decommissioned, Florida Power and Light (FP&L) purchased the vessel and used it for researching the electrical energy in lightning strikes, thus its new name Thunderbolt. FP&L donated Thunderbolt to the Florida Keys Artificial Reef Association who sank it on March 6, 1986. The vessel is upright and intact on a sand bottom in 120 feet of water four miles south of Marathon.

Depth: 120 feet Latitude: 24.66105; Longitude: -80.963067

North America

Although not confirmed, this shipwreck may be North America, a 130-foot wooden square-rigged sailing vessel built in Bath, Maine, in 1833. Carrying dry goods and furniture enroute from New York to Mobile Alabama the vessel was lost on a reef in the Florida Keys on November 25, 1842. Only sections of the lower hull can be seen above the sandy bottom, while the main structure is covered with ballast stones. The vessel rests in 14-feet of water in the sand and grass flats north of Delta Shoals, just east of Sombrero Light.

Depth: 14 feet Latitude: 24.637833; Longitude: -80.093417

Amesbury

The 306-foot Amesbury, locally known as Alexander’s Wreck, was built at the Boston Navy Yard in 1943. Amesbury (DE 66) was launched as a U.S. Naval destroyer escort and later converted to a high-speed transport vessel and assigned hull #APD-46. Amesbury was named in honor of Lieutenant Stanton Morgan Amesbury who was killed in action in 1942. Amesbury participated in the Invasion of Normandy in 1944, and supported landings in Korea and China during 1945 with Underwater Demolitions Team Twelve. Decommissioned 1946 and placed on reserve status, Amesbury never saw service again. The vessel was sold in 1960 to Chet Alexander Marine Salvage of Key West. On the way to a deep water resting place, it prematurely sank in 25 feet of water five miles west of Key West.

Depth: 25 feet Latitude: 24.623283; Longitude: -81.981867