Hammond in Warrenton in Clatsop County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
The Wreck of the Peter Iredale
Photographed by William Thievon, July 27, 2025
1. The Wreck of the Peter Iredale Marker
On October 25, 1906, the British sailing ship Peter Iredale ran aground here on the beach before you. Miraculously, no hands were lost, but the ship was declared a total loss. The Peter Iredale instantly became a famous landmark and tourist curiosity.
The Troubles
Captain Henry Lawrence piloted the Peter Iredale from Salina Cruz, Mexico, toward Portland, Oregon, where the ship would pickup wheat destined for the United Kingdom. As the ship neared the entrance to the Columbia River, a storm brought dense fog that made navigation difficult. Captain Lawrence decided to wait for daylight to cross the bar. After midnight, a storm with high winds pushed the Peter Iredale onto the sand where the main mast, rigging blocks, arid tackle crashed on the deck. Soon, the remaining masts snapped as well.
The Ravages of Time
The British Naval Court ruled that the wind shift and strong current caused the Peter Iredale to run aground. British shipping firm Iredale & Porter sold the ship to Pacific Iron Works of Astoria for scrap. The company dismantled more of the hull and left the forward section intact. The remains of the Peter
this page online
Erected by Oregon State Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is October 25, 1906.
Location. 46° 10.699′ N, 123° 58.747′ W. Marker is in Warrenton, Oregon, in Clatsop County. It is in Hammond. It can be reached from Peter Iredale Road. Located at parking lot in Ft. Stevens State Park at beach near the wreck. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hammond OR 97121, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Oregon Coast. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Shipwrecks on a Perilous Coast (a few steps from this marker); Battery Pratt (approx. 2.1 miles away); Free Willy (approx. 2.1 miles away); Japanese Bombardment
Kiser Co., Portland (courtesy of the Oregon Historical Society), 1909
2. Ruins of the Shipwreck in 1909
Other markers no longer nearby. The Peter Iredale (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named The Wreck of the Peter Iredale (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).
Photographed by William Thievon, July 27, 2025
3. Ruins of the Shipwreck in July 2025
Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2025, by William Thievon of Hofheim am Taunus, Germany. This page has been viewed 108 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 19, 2025, by William Thievon of Hofheim am Taunus, Germany. 2. submitted on October 22, 2025. 3. submitted on October 19, 2025, by William Thievon of Hofheim am Taunus, Germany. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
