Remnants of 19th-century shipwreck found on New Jersey beach
The remains of a 19th-century shipwreck have been discovered on the beach of a New Jersey state park.
Pieces of the ship ended up on the sand at Island Beach State Park after weeks of “erosion caused by rough surf and persistent wind and wave action,” the park wrote on social media Thursday.
According to authorities, the Lawrence N. McKenzie was transporting oranges from Puerto Rico to New York when it sank on March 21, 1890. However, all eight crew members survived.
The 98-foot-long schooner was built in Massachusetts in 1883.
The park’s message states that beach erosion is natural and occurs each winter when “high-energy waves and seasonal storms remove sand from the shoreline, resulting in narrower beaches and steeper profiles.”
“Most beaches recover from erosion during the quieter summer months, but for now, this winter’s erosion has revealed a glimpse of the park’s maritime history,” officials said.
Staff emphasized that visitors should respect the historic objects found in New Jersey state parks. Touching or removing objects may result in fines or arrest by park police.
