On October 25, 1906, the sailing vessel Peter Iredale was bound from Salina Cruz, Mexico to Portland, Oregon when she ran into trouble trying to enter the mouth of the Columbia River in thick mist and a rising tide. Heavy winds drove the ship aground near Fort Stevens. All 27 passengers (including two stowaways) made it safely to shore where the rescued sailors from the wreck were fed, clothed, and housed at the fort after the incident. Over a century later, the shipwreck remains a popular spot for both tourists and photographers alike.
The following images chronicle the Peter Iredale’s downfall.
1900:
October 25, 1906, the day of the wreck:
Circa 1909-1914:
Circa 1930s:
1959:
Circa 1960:
1980:
1988:
2007:
2016:
2017:
2018:
2020:
