SS Tennessee Shipwreck Site

In 1853, the side-wheel passenger steamship carrying 600 passengers and a valuable cargo of mail and gold ran aground in dense fog. All passengers were rescued, but the ship broke apart in the surf. Today, the ship's massive rusted iron engine rods are occasionally exposed at the south end of the beach during extreme low tides.

Open in interactive map Open source record

Record typeshipwreck

LocationTennessee Cove, Marin Headlands, Marin County

Probability indexHigh

Land statusGolden Gate National Recreation Area (National Park Service; protected historic resource, no artifact collection)

Research coordinates37.8415, -122.5518

SourceNational Register of Historic Places (NRHP #81000102)

Field Research Notes

Hike the 1.7-mile Tennessee Valley Trail to reach the cove. At the south end of the rocky beach, look for the rusted iron shafts of the ship's steam engine protruding from the sand at low tide. Beachcombing is permitted, but the removal of any historic metal or shipwreck fragments is a federal offense.

Recommended Gear

Hiking boots, Waterproof shell, Tide table app

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