Coming Soon! Biscayne National Park's Maritime Heritage Trail will offer an exciting opportunity to explore the remains of some of the park's many shipwrecks. Six wrecks, spanning nearly a century and a wide variety of sizes and vessel types, are being prepared for public mooring and viewing. These preparations include mapping, the installation of mooring buoys, and production of individual, waterproof site cards for each of the wrecks.

Access to the wrecks is by boat only, and all but the Mandalay are best suited to scuba divers. The Mandalay offers an unparalleled opportunity for snorkelers to experience a wreck.

Arratoon Apcar hard aground.

Arratoon Apcar - Sank 1878

In the 1870s, Cape Florida Lighthouse was considered inadequate because of its distance from the reef line. When Arratoon Apcar ran aground, it did so just a few hundred yards from where workers were busy building the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse.

Erl King under sail.

Erl King - Sank 1891

Erl King reflects the early period of transition from wooden sailing vessels to steel steamships.

Wreckers work the Alicia.

Alicia - Sank 1905

Alicia was laden with silks, silverware, and other fine household items when it ran aground on Long Reef. The ensuing, often violent battles among the 70 different groups of wreckers led to a permanent rewriting of U.S. salvage laws.

Lugano founders on Long Reef.

Lugano - Sank 1913

At the time of its grounding, Lugano had been the largest vessel ever to wreck in the Florida Keys.

The schooner Mandalay under sail.

Mandalay - Sank 1966

The steel-hulled schooner Mandalay was known as the “Red Carpet Ship of the Windjammer Fleet” and was outfitted with a teak and mahogany deck.

Can't Get Enough Maritime History?

Visit the National Park Service's Maritime Heritage Program's website to learn about other efforts to protect America's seafaring history.
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