Author
Laura Rose, Virginia Sea Grant, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Grade Level
9-12
Lesson Time
1- 3 hrs. (depends on number of sanctuaries explored)
Objectives
This activity can be short or long, depending on how many sanctuaries (and shipwrecks!)you explore. Credits
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries
Summary
Explore shipwrecks from the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary on the West Coast of the U.S.
Its combination of fierce weather, isolated and rocky shores, and heavy ship commerce soon established the Olympic Coast as a graveyard for ships. More than 180 shipwrecks have been historically documented in the vicinity of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, an amount proportional to the commercial development in the region and the region's significance in the economies of the United States and Canada.
There are few recorded shipwrecks prior to the mid-nineteenth century and no authentically reported shipwrecks during the eighteenth century. The number of losses increased significantly as Puget Sound developed into an economic center and as Victoria developed on the north side of the Strait in the later 19th century. Ship losses were predominantly weather-related, and included founderings, collisions and groundings. Many ships simply disappeared, their last known location recorded by the lighthouse keeper at Tatoosh Island before they disappeared into watery oblivion. "Last sighted, Cape Flattery," is the grim epitaph for many unfortunate ships and crew.
One of the best-known shipwrecks along the Olympic Coast is that of the Austria, a Bath, Maine-built "Down Easter" converted from a full-rigged ship to a bark to ply the West Coast trade. Her captain's journal tells the story of how she was blown ashore during a gale and impaled on jagged rocks. Fragments of the Austria remain visible at Cape Alava during extreme low tides.
Data Activity
Part 1: Be a Shipwreck Detective
Print out the chart for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. (This requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download this for free).
Go to the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Database, and plot the shipwrecks listed in the data table by placing a small x and the shipwreck's name at the spot on the map where the latitude and longitude intersect.
Check your answers with our Answer Page.
Part 2: Be a Shipwreck Historian
It will be easiest for your students to study the individual historical reports if you have printed them out ahead of time and made copies. In each sanctuary's database, click on the name of the ship to access the historical report. In some cases, a report may contain another link to an image and more information; be sure to print out that information also.
Check your answers with our Answer Page.