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 La Feliz - Santa Cruz, CA Posted by:  Touchstone
N 36° 56.920 W 122° 03.889
10S E 583265 N 4089586
La Feliz wrecked upon the rocks near what is now the Seymour Marine Discovery Center in 1904.
Waymark Code: WM63FZ
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 03/26/2009
Views: 3
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One of the highlights of the
Docent led tours of the nearby Seymour Marine Discovery Museum for most
folks, certainly must be the story of the ill fated La Feliz that crashed
upon the rocks just below the Center. Apparently the mast is all
that's left of the ship, although all hands on board were safely brought
to safety. Not too surprisingly, the Museum takes a certain amount
of pride in having a shipwreck just out there backdoor, and consequently,
the Docent led tours begin on what they lovingly call "Shipwreck
Deck".
Site Tours (daily)
Join our skilled docent guides on a daily site tour around the Seymour
Center and parts of Long Marine Lab. Tours are available at 1:00, 2:00 and
3:00 PM on a first come, first serve basis. Simply sign up at the
admissions desk when you arrive.
Seymour
Marine Discovery Museum Tour Information
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It has been claimed that the
California coastline has one of the largest number of wrecked ships in the
world. Easy to understand, considering the mass migration of people
during the Gold Rush and the influx of shipping traffic during the
1800's. The Pacific Grove Museum Archives has the following details
concerning the ill fated ship:
Steam schooner La Feliz, built in Newhall, WA in 1904
was wrecked in heavy seas off of what is now Natural Bridges State park,
about 2 miles north of the Santa Cruz Light Station on October 1, 1924.
The ship had picked up a cargo of sardines in Monterey, and was running
too close to shore at the time of the accident. View shows vessel from
stern listing on rocks while a man at left works with pole.
Pacific
Grove Museum Archives |
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The La Feliz is also mentioned
in NOAA's CINMS Database of shipwrecks:
The vessel was
caught in the heavy seas and dashed against an outcropping of rocks. A
line from shore to the vessel, allowed the crew to make shore.
The coastwise
steamer La feliz, ground near Watsonville, California with a sizable
cargo of Fireman's Fund-insured sardines aboard. Artichoke rancher who
owned the land wanted $500 to let the salvors cross his land; under
marine law no payment is required. Rancher kept them off first with a
rifle, later by flooding the access road. Expediency overrule principle
and the Company paid. Bronson
CINMS
Database |
Date of Shipwreck: 1904
Type of Boat: Steamboat
Military or Civilian: Civilian
Cause of Shipwreck: The nearby Docent led tours makes a point of showing visitors the remains of the mast from the ship, and local folklore states that the wreck was caused when the Captain had to relieve himself, leaving an inexperienced seaman at the helm.
Accessibility:
Generally 9-5 when the nearby Discovery Center is open, however the area of the Shipwreck is considered Coastal Access, so should be accessible other hours as well.
Diving Permitted: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
Only log the site if you have visited it personally.
Floating over a site does not qualify as a find if it is a wreck that requires diving - you must have actually visited the site - therefore photos of the site are good.
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