Wreck of the Samoa
On January 28, 1913, the steam schooner Samoa was en route from Eureka to San Francisco with a heavy cargo of redwood lumber when she became disoriented in a blinding fog off the Marin Coast. The vessel ran violently aground in the heavy breakers just 600 yards south of the.
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- Target Name: Wreck of the Samoa
- Registry Category: shipwreck
- Geographic Location: Marin County, located approximately 600 yards south of the Chimney Rock Lifeboat Station along the rugged cliffs of Point Reyes. (Coordinates:
37.99450, -122.97850) - Land Status: National Park Service / Point Reyes National Seashore (Strictly Prohibited) (Classified as Protected / Restricted)
- Primary Historic Source: U.S. Life-Saving Service Reports / NPS Maritime Stories
- Search & Usefulness Rating: Score 42/100 (Field Readiness: Archive / View Only)
- Summary Overview: On January 28, 1913, the steam schooner Samoa was en route from Eureka to San Francisco with a heavy cargo of redwood lumber when she became disoriented in a blinding fog off the Marin Coast. The.
Historical Overview
On January 28, 1913, the steam schooner Samoa was en route from Eureka to San Francisco with a heavy cargo of redwood lumber when she became disoriented in a blinding fog off the Marin Coast. The vessel ran violently aground in the heavy breakers just 600 yards south of the Chimney Rock Life-Saving Station. The shipwreck triggered one of the most celebrated and heroic rescue operations in the history of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, during which surfmen successfully deployed a breeches buoy to rescue all twenty-one crew members amidst pounding waves and drifting timber. While the crew survived, the vessel was completely pounded to pieces by the relentless surf.
Field Search & Recovery Tips
The remnants of the Samoa are highly fragmented and scattered across a treacherous, rocky intertidal zone beneath steep granite cliffs. Accessing the area is extremely dangerous due to unpredictable swells, high tides, and loose cliffs, and all artifact collection is strictly forbidden by the National Park Service.
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National Park Service / Point Reyes National Seashore (Strictly Prohibited)
Legal & Permit Review
Recommended Outfitting
U.S. Life-Saving Service Reports / NPS Maritime Stories
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