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Historic Shipwreck Profile

Side-wheel steamer Sierra Nevada approaching Golden Gate in 6 Jun 1857 issue of Harper's Weekly
Sierra Nevada approaches the Golden Gate, San Francisco, California. Source: Harper’s Weekly, 6 June 1857, Volume 1, Number 23, p.360. Courtesy of Robert Schwemmer Maritime Library.

Sierra Nevada

Side-wheel Passenger Steamer


shipwreck location map

Casualty Location: Point Sierra Nevada, San Luis Obispo County, California, USA

Location Status: Located (see Important Note)

Casualty Date: 1869 (Oct 17)

Owner: Holladay and Brenham

Home Port: New York, New York, USA

Length: 222 feet 4 inches Beam: 34 feet 6 inches

Gross Tonnage: 1257.27 Cargo:

Builder: William W. Collyer

Launched: 1851 (New York, New York, USA; as the Texas)

Official Number: 23396

Description:

“October 16, 1869 the SIERRA NEVADA left San Francisco for San Luis Obispo. Monterey was left the next day in a thick fog, which lasted all thru the day. She was feeling her way at six and one-half knots speed when at 10:30 PM she grounded with moderate force. While trying to back off a heavy swell picked up the steamer, carried her farther over the rock and then dropped her with such force that the bottom was stove in and her boilers were lifted off their beds. Life-boats were at once launched and occupied, remaining near the wreck until the fog lifted in the morning.

"The SIERRA was grounded about three-quarters of a mile off shore and three miles distant from San Simeon. The boats all rowed to San Simeon, where they landed. Both SIERRA NEVADA and her cargo were a total loss, being quickly reduced to kindling by the heavy surf. However there was no loss of life among her forty-two passengers and crew.” (excerpt from Heyl 1953)

Artifacts from the wreck are held by the Piedras Blancas Light Station, including boiler gauge, brass bearings, ceramic plate piece, steam valve, and brass and glass port hole.

Nature of Casualty:

Newspaper clipping from Daily Evening Bulletin San Francisco 20OCT1869 of Sierra Nevada shipwreck

Source: Daily Evening Bulletin (San Francisco, CA), 20 October 1869.
Courtesy of Robert Schwemmer Maritime Library
.

Transcription:

Telegraphic Despatches.

[SPECIAL TO THE BULLETIN.]

Wreck of the Steamer “Sierra Nevada” — The Vessel a Total Loss — The Passengers and Crew Saved — Gallant Conduct of the Purser and Other Officers.

SAN JUAN SOUTH, October 20.—On Sunday, October 17th, the steamer Sierra Nevada, proceeding south from San Francisco, was enveloped in a dense fog, and, under circumstances not yet explained, was run upon the reefs at Pedro Blanco, 15 miles north of San Simeon. The steamer is a total wreck. Not a pound of freight or ship stores was saved. Much bravery is said to have been displayed by the officers in carrying off the passengers—the Purser, Mr. Hughes, swimming several times to the vessel to get passengers, but means of a hawser tied to the land. More intelligence will be sent by the arrival of the next stage, which is expected to bring the commander and a portion of the crew of the ill-fated vessel.


Additional Information: Wreck Event
(click headline to access full article)

Newspaper headline from Daily Alta California San Francisco 21OCT1869 of Sierra Nevada shipwreck

Source: Daily Alta California (San Francisco, CA), 21 October 1869, p.1, col.2.
Courtesy of California Digital Newspaper Collection, Center for Bibliographic Studies and Research, University of California, Riverside.

Transcription:

MARINE DISASTER.
Loss of the Steamer Sierra Nevada—The Ship a Total Wreck—Passengers and Crew All Saved.


Newspaper headline from Daily Evening Bulletin San Francisco 21OCT1869 of Sierra Nevada shipwreck

Source: Daily Evening Bulletin (San Francisco, CA), 21 October 1869.
Courtesy of Robert Schwemmer Maritime Library
.

Transcription:

Local Matters
Wreck of the Steamer “Sierra Nevada.”
The Vessel and Cargo a Total Loss—The Passengers and Crew Saved.


Newspaper headline from Daily Alta California San Francisco 22OCT1869 of Sierra Nevada shipwreck

Source: Daily Alta California (San Francisco, CA), 22 October 1869, p.1, col.4.
Courtesy of California Digital Newspaper Collection, Center for Bibliographic Studies and Research, University of California, Riverside.

Transcription:

WRECK OF THE SIERRA NEVADA.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER.


Referenced and Additional Resources


Important Note: Section 922.132 of the sanctuary regulations prohibits or restricts several activities in order to safeguard sanctuary resources, including: Moving, removing, injuring or possessing historical resources.

For a complete “official text" of MBNMS regulatory prohibitions, see Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 922.132 published by the U.S. Government Printing Office.

Reviewed: September 08, 2023
Web Site Owner: National Ocean Service

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