Lost California Treasure
SHIPWRECK Protected / Restricted

Wreck of the Clipper King Philip

The King Philip was a three-masted clipper ship built in 1856. In 1878, she lost her anchor and drifted ashore at Ocean Beach, where she broke up and became buried in the sand. Every few decades, extreme low tides and shifting sands expose her wooden hull ribbing.

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AI Summary & Quick Facts

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  • Target Name: Wreck of the Clipper King Philip
  • Registry Category: shipwreck
  • Geographic Location: Ocean Beach, San Francisco (Coordinates: 37.75150, -122.50980)
  • Land Status: Golden Gate National Recreation Area (National Park Service; protected historic resource) (Classified as Protected / Restricted)
  • Primary Historic Source: National Park Service Golden Gate NRA - Vestiges of Shipwrecks
  • Search & Usefulness Rating: Score 62/100 (Field Readiness: Archive / View Only)
  • Summary Overview: The King Philip was a three-masted clipper ship built in 1856. In 1878, she lost her anchor and drifted ashore at Ocean Beach, where she broke up and became buried in the sand. Every few decades.

Historical Overview

The King Philip was a three-masted clipper ship built in 1856. In 1878, she lost her anchor and drifted ashore at Ocean Beach, where she broke up and became buried in the sand. Every few decades, extreme low tides and shifting sands expose her wooden hull ribbing.

Field Search & Recovery Tips

The wreck is buried beneath the sand of Ocean Beach. Remnants are only visible during extremely low (minus) tides, typically after large winter storms have washed away the top layers of sand. Do not attempt to dig or excavate, as the beach is managed by the National Park Service and ARPA rules apply.

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
62
Usefulness Rating Medium Potential
Land Status Designation Protected / Restricted

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (National Park Service; protected historic resource)

Field Readiness Mode Archive / View Only
Research Coordinates
37.75150, -122.50980
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

Tide table app Camera Warm layers
Reference Work Citation

National Park Service Golden Gate NRA - Vestiges of Shipwrecks

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