SS Palo Alto Concrete Ship Wreck
The SS Palo Alto was a historic concrete oil tanker built in 1919 by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company. In 1929, the Cal-Nevada Company purchased the ship and towed it to Seacliff State Beach, grounding it in shallow water and constructing a pier out to it. It was outfitted as an amusement vessel with a dance floor, cafe, swimming pool, and carnival booths. A major storm cracked the hull in the 1930s, and it was eventually stripped and left as a fishing pier. Over decades of storms, the ship has fragmented, serving today as a critical marine habitat and a legendary historic monument.
Field Research Notes
The ship is visible directly from the pier at Seacliff State Beach. Diving or swimming inside or immediately next to the concrete hull is extremely hazardous due to sharp rusted rebar, collapsing concrete blocks, and strong surge. Removal of any material is strictly prohibited under California State Park rules.
Recommended Gear
Binoculars, Polarized sunglasses, Historical overview sheet
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