Rhode Island’s largest ship graveyard is hidden in plain sight. More than 100,000 people pass by it every single day, but many don’t know it’s there. Concealed at the bottom of the Providence River is a portion of our state’s maritime past that is truly a local treasure.
At least 26 sunken vessels are spread across 33-acres of Green Jacket Shoal in the Providence Harbor. The ship graveyard is proof of Rhode island’s significant role in maritime history as a major link between Boston and New York.
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The site is marked by wood and pilings that rise up from the water off the coast of Bold Point like long forgotten deadwood in a swamp.
Wikimedia Commons/Rhododendrites
The ship graveyard includes five steamboats, 15 barges, and six sailing ships. These vessels date from the mid-19th century to early-20th century.
Wikimedia Commons/Rhododendrites
Two paddle-wheel steamships from the 1800s, Mount Hope and Bay Queen, are two of the ships that have been identified.
Wikimedia Commons/Antonio Jacobsen
The vessels in this graveyard were probably abandoned there at the end of their career. They were stripped of all hardware and machinery from engines to chandeliers and then moved to the shoal where their lives were ended.
Wikimedia Commons/Timothy Burling
The site that millions of vehicles pass each year is just out of reach, but now as you go cruising down I95 and look out into the harbor, you can imagine what lurks beneath the surface.
Flickr/Ani Od Chai
Did you know about this ship graveyard in the Providence Harbor? Or is this your first time hearing about it?
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Wikimedia Commons/Rhododendrites
Wikimedia Commons/Antonio Jacobsen
Wikimedia Commons/Timothy Burling
Flickr/Ani Od Chai
If you enjoy learning about Rhode Island’s history, you should check out these rare photos from the early 1900s. You also might find this spot where the Industrial Revolution got its start more than fascinating.
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