Perhaps one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world (other than the Titanic, of course) would have to be the Whydah. As the only fully authenticated pirate ship in the world, its wreckage was found off the coast of Cape Cod in 1984. But there are certainly other wrecks that still lie below the surface of the Bay State’s coast. In fact, there have been thousands of shipwrecks off the coasts of Cape Cod and Cape Ann alone over the course of hundreds of years. One shipwreck off the coast of Massachusetts that was discovered in recent years is the PS Portland, and that is what we are going to learn more about today.

The PS Portland was owned by the Portland Steam Packet Company out of Portland, Maine. Built in 1889, it was a side-wheel ocean-going steamship that was known for its luxurious design.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)/Facebook
This oceangoing vessel would make runs between Boston and Portland. However, on one fateful day, it was lost to the sea.
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary/NOAA
Upon its final voyage out of Boston towards Portland on November 27, 1898, the PS Portland ran into The Portland Gale, a powerful storm that struck the northeastern seaboard. Due to high winds and seas, the ship sank off the coast of Cape Ann in what is now the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This particular storm was eventually named after the sunken ship.
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary/NOAA

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Unfortunately, all passengers onboard perished in the storm. And for nearly a century, no one really knew where the remains of the ship were located.
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary/NOAA
Beginning in 1989, the ship's remains were initially located by John Fish and Arnold Carr of the Historic Maritime Group of New England. At that time, however, it could not be proven. In 2002, the PS Portland's remains were then confirmed 400 feet below the surface within the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
National Marine Sanctuaries/NOAA
The marine sanctuary, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and Marine Imaging Technologies have been researching the site over the past several years.
National Marine Sanctuaries/NOAA


Take a look at this underwater video to see the shipwreck:

Have you ever heard of the PS Portland? Do you know of another shipwreck off the coast of Massachusetts? Tell us about it in the comments. To learn more about PS Portland, visit the website for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

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