Lost California Treasure
SHIPWRECK Protected / Restricted

Wreck of the SS City of Chester

On August 22, 1888, the steamship SS City of Chester collided with the much larger vessel Oceanic in thick fog inside the Golden Gate strait. The ship split in two and sank in less than six minutes. The wreck was rediscovered in 2013 by NOAA hydrographers using multi-beam.

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AI Summary & Quick Facts

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  • Target Name: Wreck of the SS City of Chester
  • Registry Category: shipwreck
  • Geographic Location: Golden Gate Strait, San Francisco Bay (Coordinates: 37.81780, -122.47880)
  • Land Status: Federal Marine Sanctuary (Restricted) (Classified as Protected / Restricted)
  • Primary Historic Source: NOAA Office of Coast Survey - SS City of Chester
  • Search & Usefulness Rating: Score 52/100 (Field Readiness: Archive / View Only)
  • Summary Overview: On August 22, 1888, the steamship SS City of Chester collided with the much larger vessel Oceanic in thick fog inside the Golden Gate strait. The ship split in two and sank in less than six minutes..

Historical Overview

On August 22, 1888, the steamship SS City of Chester collided with the much larger vessel Oceanic in thick fog inside the Golden Gate strait. The ship split in two and sank in less than six minutes. The wreck was rediscovered in 2013 by NOAA hydrographers using multi-beam sonar. While not carrying commercial gold bullion, the wreck contains valuable historical artifacts and is an important archaeological preserve.

Field Search & Recovery Tips

Located in 217 feet of water near the center of the Golden Gate shipping channel. Diving is extremely dangerous due to commercial ship traffic and severe currents.

Field Action Checklist

1
Use the source link, public overlooks, museum records, or agency pages; do not disturb the ground or wreck site.
2
Record photos, bearings, and public interpretation notes instead of collecting objects.
3
Contact the managing agency before any research that goes beyond viewing or documentation.
4
Check tides, swell, marine protected areas, and vessel traffic before any shoreline or water visit.

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Research Dossier
52
Usefulness Rating Medium Potential
Land Status Designation Protected / Restricted

Federal Marine Sanctuary (Restricted)

Field Readiness Mode Archive / View Only
Research Coordinates
37.81780, -122.47880
Google Maps ↗ OpenStreetMap ↗ CalTopo ↗

Legal & Permit Review

REQUIRED California State Lands Shipwreck Info Check California submerged-land and shipwreck restrictions before diving, probing, or salvage activity. ↗ REQUIRED NPS Archeology Guidelines Treat NPS archeological landscapes as non-collection research and verify unit-specific rules. ↗ RECOMMENDED California State Lands Confirm whether tidelands, submerged lands, or navigable waterways are involved. ↗ RECOMMENDED NOAA Tide Predictions Check tide windows before shoreline, surf-zone, or intertidal observation. ↗ CONTEXT NOAA ENC Direct Compare charted wreck or obstruction context against current NOAA navigation data. ↗

Recommended Outfitting

Sidescan Sonar ROV Camera Underwater Lights
Reference Work Citation

NOAA Office of Coast Survey - SS City of Chester

Open original reference source ↗