These are some of the most famous shipwrecks in the world:
- SS Valencia
- Salem Express
- USS Kittiwake
- Patriot
- RMS Titanic
Spooky season is in full effect, and what is more interesting than a traditional ghost story? It’s a maritime shipwreck tale. The following tragedies are true stories with paranormal ties. Plus, some are dive sites that skillful divers visit to this day. Keep reading to learn some shipwreck history and discover the spooky stories attached.
SS Valencia
Spanning the coast of Tillamook Bay, Oregon to Cape Scott, Canada lies a stretch of water so turbulent and deadly it has been deemed the “Graveyard of the Pacific.” With such an infamous reputation, it’s no surprise that it has birthed tales of shipwrecks and phantom crew sightings. One such story is that of the SS Valencia.
One night in January 1906, the passenger steamer was taking a routine trip from San Francisco to Seattle. A fierce storm deprived the crew of stars, leaving them unable to navigate the waters. The high winds of the storm battered the ship against the rocks and reefs, causing the ship to begin flooding. In a panic, the crew tried to escape the sinking ship via lifeboats. However, six of the boats flipped over, and another disappeared. 136 people, including crew, women, and children, passed away because of the disaster. Explorers who hike the West Coast Trail to the coastline can see pieces of the wreckage. They may also witness ghost ships and lost life boats, according to rumors.
Salem Express
The Salem Express is a tragedy that happened in the Red Sea. The Salem Express was a passenger ferry for people and their cars. It wrecked in 1991 off the coast of Egypt after getting caught in a storm. It hit a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Divers can go down and see much of the wreckage today. You will still find cars, luggage, and more inside the ship. Divers have claimed to hear children laughing and cars revealing while inside the ship.
USS Kittiwake
The USS Kittiwake is likely one of the most well-known wrecks of all time, especially in the Caribbean. It is off of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman, Mexico. The USS Kittiwake was a submarine rescue ship built in the 1940s and officially retired in the 1990s. Now, it is part of an artificial reef for divers to explore.
Although the USS Kittiwake’s sinkage was intentional, it holds decades of history inside its metal walls. One of the most exciting missions the USS Kittiwake was tasked with was recovering the black box that was lost in the Challenger space shuttle’s explosion.
The Patriot and Theodosia Burr Alston
The Patriot’s shipwreck is actually less interesting than the passengers on board. It’s believed that Aaron Burr’s daughter Theodosia was on this fatal ship. Fans of Hamilton are probably putting the pieces of the puzzle together now. This wreck came in 1813 and is still a true mystery today. The ship was never found; all theories of the sunken ship are just speculations.
Theodosia Burr Alston was traveling from North Carolina to New York to visit her father, Aaron Burr, after she had lost a newborn son. Burr had already been through a treacherous history with his illegal duel and killing of Alexander Hamilton. Theodosia had visited her father multiple times throughout his trials, but this tragedy came years later.
Some people think pirates overran the ship, while others believe it was a storm, as many other ships all victim to. What we do know is that in 1869, a doctor was presented with an oil portrait of a young woman in lieu of payment. However, the valid owner of the painting refused and claimed she must take the portrait to her father in New York. The woman ran off into the sea with the painting, and it was washed back on shore a day later. Now, it is in the Lewis Walpole Library for all to admire and ponder its true origins.
RMS Titanic
The RMS Titanic is arguably the most famous shipwreck in history. So much so that people are still visiting its wreckage today, some successful and some not. The Titanic’s history is very well known and has had multiple media pieces made about it. However, some of the more untold stories are the ones of ghosts who still walk the Titanic’s decks.
One of the more common phenomena is sailors seeing orbs floating above the wreckage itself. Orbs are little balls of light energy that are said to signify a supernatural presence. Another unexplainable experience is that of some submarines that have traveled under the water near the Titanic. They have heard strange signals on their radios, including SOS messages. However, these messages have never been trackable or sent from a reliable source.
The most bone-chilling Titanic story came from 1977 when Second Officer Leonard Bishop gave a tour of the wreck to a man. Bishop claimed the man was British, soft-spoken, and a bit odd. It wasn’t until years later when Bishop was shown a picture of “the man,” that he thought of him again. He told his friend that he knew him and had given him a tour. However, the friend laughed as the photo was of the captain of the Titanic, Edward Smith.
Shipwrecks hold so much history, but their tales can also hold goosebump-creating stories. These are just a few of the most well-known wrecks from around the world. However, their tales are a great way to get into the spooky spirit this Halloween season.
What is the SS Valencia, and where did it wreck?
The SS Valencia was a passenger steamboat that wrecked on a part of the Pacific Coast called the “Graveyard of the Pacific” during a storm in January 1906.
What happened to the Salem Express, and what paranormal experiences have divers reported?
The Salem Express was a passenger ferry that sank in the Red Sea in 1991. Divers have reported hearing children laughing and the sound of cars inside the sunken ship.
What is the USS Kittiwake, and where is it located?
The USS Kittiwake was a submarine rescue ship, now serving as an artificial reef off Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman, Mexico, for divers to explore.
Who was Theodosia Burr Alston, and what’s mysterious about her disappearance?
Theodosia Burr Alston, daughter of Aaron Burr, disappeared in 1813 while traveling on the Patriot ship from North Carolina to New York. The circumstances of her disappearance remain a mystery.
What paranormal phenomena are associated with the RMS Titanic, and what’s the eerie story involving Second Officer Leonard Bishop?
Paranormal phenomena around the RMS Titanic include sightings of orbs and strange radio signals heard by submarines near the wreck. A chilling story involves Second Officer Leonard Bishop giving a tour to a man who turned out to resemble the Titanic’s captain, Edward Smith, leaving Bishop spooked.