Mystery shipwreck identified 113 years after it grounded off Florida Keys, officials say

A largely forgotten shipwreck off the Florida Keys has been identified as a four-masted schooner that ran around during a squall in 1911, according to NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The scattered debris off Key Largo is what remains of the Star of the Sea, NOAA marine archaeologist Matthew Lawrence told McClatchy News.

“It’s great to bring an unknown story back to life, with a touchstone like a shipwreck to give it physical presence,” Lawrence said in an email.

“Star of the Sea was carrying lumber from Pensacola when it grounded at French Reef in October 1911 ... in stormy, squally weather. Initial reports said it was lightly grounded, and could be saved, but that ended not being the case.”

This schooner was built in 1887 in Bath, Maine, and originally named the Katie J. Barrett. The name change came in 1890, when the ship had to be rebuilt after grounding in Nauset, Massachusetts, records show.

The identity of the wreck was lost over time as it vanished below the surface. It sits in 20 feet of water and is not commonly visited by people who dive, snorkel or fish, Lawrence said.

Putting a name to the debris solves a mystery and helps historians connect the vessel “as a driver of economic activity and social exchange,” he said.

A research group known as Diving with a Purpose is credited with helping to solve the mystery. The nonprofit organization trains divers in underwater archaeological techniques and in ecological monitoring, officials said.

Divers mapped the wreck June 10-15 and confirmed the debris is scattered over a 250-foot stretch of the reef, Lawrence said. That makes the wreck difficult to take in as a whole, despite being in shallow water, he said.

“The shipwreck’s remains primarily consist of the metal fittings used in its construction. The wooden hull is not present on the site due to deterioration and the way it broke apart,” he said.

“All of the artifacts were left on the shipwreck. Sanctuary regulations prohibit disturbing the wreck and taking artifacts and we hope that those who visit the shipwreck in the future honor this history by leaving everything where they found it for future visitors to discover.”

The Star of the Sea is among 800 historical sites within the NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary protects 3,800 square miles of waters around the Keys, “from south of Miami westward to the Dry Tortugas,” NOAA says.

Details of some of the sanctuary’s shipwrecks can be found at Floridakeys.noaa.gov/shipwrecktrail/.

This story was originally published June 20, 2024 at 7:41 AM with the headline "Mystery shipwreck identified 113 years after it grounded off Florida Keys, officials say."