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| FERRIES & BRIDGES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PARKS & FACILITIES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LIGHTHOUSES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | SHIPWRECKS | MAP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SHIPWRECKS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As a result of the colliding Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current just a few miles off shore many shifting sand bars are formed off the coast of the Outer Banks. These, along with the storms, have caused hundreds of ships to wreck both on and offshore. Adding to this the German submarine attacks during both World Wars has earned the Outer Banks the title of the Graveyard of the Atlantic. I remember back twenty five or thirty years ago, it was not uncommon to find shipwrecks on the beaches of the Outer Banks. Due to time, wave actions, and constantly shifting sands, it is getting more and more difficult to find shipwrecks. However, even today, there are wrecks that suddenly appear on the beach, and a few days or weeks later they disappear, only to reappear again after some time. Included below are several photographs of shipwrecks I have personally seen. For the best site to learn about shipwrecks in the region, I suggest you visit the web site Outer Banks Guidebook, which is run by Fred Hurteau. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unknown Shipwreck in Nags Head | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| I found this shipwreck during a visit in the summer of 2003. It was right on the beach in the town of Nags Head at approximately Mile Post 16. We visited again in May of 2004, and it was nowhere to be seen. Then in December of 2004, it had again reappeared. This time it was all well within the surf though. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| December 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summer 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Frances E. Waters Shipwreck | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| The Frances E. Waters sank in October of 1889. The hull sat on the beach in Nags Head until a storm in 1978 picked it up and floated it away. It crashed through a fishing pier. It was then deposited in Oregon Inlet. The city of Nags Head dragged it back to put on display in the parking lot of the city hall. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Boiler of the transport Oriental | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This is visible in the surf across Highway 12 from the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge visitor center. The Oriental was a federal transport that sunk in 1862. I've been visiting the Outer Banks since 1968, and this shipwreck has remained pretty much unchanged in all those years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Laura Barnes Ten years ago the entire keel of this shipwreck was visible. It is located at Coquina Beach, within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. When we visited in the summer of 2003, I couldn't find any evidence of the shipwreck, even though the park service still had it listed. Then during our trip in December 2004 this was again visible. Perhaps next visit will show more exposed from the sand. |
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