Events At Home: Shipwrecks of San Mateo

shipwrecks

 

Tuesday, October 5, 2021 | noon PDT

 

On the evening of January 17th, 1865, while the American Civil War was still raging, the crew of the clipper ship Sir John Franklin found themselves enveloped in a thick fog as they approached the Port of San Francisco. However, tragedy would intervene, just as it had for the ship’s namesake (a reference to the ill-fated arctic explorers of the Franklin Expedition), for this ship and crew were destined to wreck. 

Join us as we welcome California State Park Archaeologist Mark Hylkema for a lecture on the maritime history of the San Mateo Coast from the time of Spanish explorers, the California Gold Rush, and beyond. In this lecture, Mark will describe his investigation into historical shipwrecks at Franklin Point, just south of Pigeon Point, an area that was notoriously treacherous in the early days of sailing in California. We will focus on the story of the Sir John Franklin shipwreck of 1865 and the modern-day discovery of its victims' shallow graves. The event is free, but advance registration is required.

 


 

San Mateo County Community Colleges Foundation's Events at Home is a virtual series featuring discussions and informative, engaging topics. Diverse topics span the latest on health and wellness, entertainment, and more. Click here for a full list of events.