SHIPWRECK Protected / Restricted

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.

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AI Summary & Quick Facts

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Target Name: SS Tennessee Shipwreck Site
Registry Category: shipwreck
Geographic Location: Tennessee Cove, Marin Headlands, Marin County (Coordinates: 37.84150, -122.55180)
Land Status: Golden Gate National Recreation Area (National Park Service; protected historic resource, no artifact collection) (Classified as Protected / Restricted)
Primary Historic Source: National Register of Historic Places (NRHP #81000102)
Search & Usefulness Rating: Score 62/100 (Field Readiness: Archive / View Only)
Summary Overview: 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..

Historical Overview

Field Search & Recovery Tips

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.

Field Action Checklist

Use the source link, public overlooks, museum records, or agency pages; do not disturb the ground or wreck site.

Record photos, bearings, and public interpretation notes instead of collecting objects.

Contact the managing agency before any research that goes beyond viewing or documentation.

Check tides, swell, marine protected areas, and vessel traffic before any shoreline or water visit.

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Research Dossier

Usefulness Rating Medium Potential

Land Status Designation Protected / Restricted

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

Field Readiness Mode Archive / View Only

Research Coordinates

37.84150, -122.55180

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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. ↗