SS Point Reyes Shipwreck

The Point Reyes shipwreck, an old fishing boat that was purchased by a resident of Inverness who intended to repair the vessel. The new owner intentionally beached the boat on the Tomales Bay side of what is now the Dixon Marine Services, Inc. building in “downtown” Inverness.

Point Reyes National Seashore is a 71,028-acre park preserve located on the Point Reyes Peninsula in California. As a national seashore, it is maintained by the US National Park Service as an important nature preserve. Some existing agricultural uses are allowed to continue within the park. Clem Miller, a US Congressman from Marin County wrote and introduced the bill for the establishment of Point Reyes National Seashore in 1962 to protect the peninsula from development which was proposed at the time for the slopes above Drake’s Bay. All of the park’s beaches were listed as the cleanest in the state in 2010.

The small town of Point Reyes Station, although not actually located on the peninsula, nevertheless provides most services to it, though some services are also available at Inverness on the west shore of Tomales Bay. The even smaller town of Olema, about 3 miles south of Point Reyes Station, serves as the gateway to the Seashore and its visitor center, located on Bear Valley Road.

The peninsula includes wild coastal beaches and headlands, estuaries, and uplands. Parts of the park are private farms and ranches which have commercial cattle grazing. These were leased back when the park was purchased to continue these historic uses. Other parts are under the jurisdiction of other conservation authorities with the National Park Service provides signage and manages visitor impact on the entire peninsula and Tomales Bay.

What to Photograph

The Tomales Bay Shipwreck, the Inverness Shipwreck, or the S.S. Point Reyes.

Where it is:

The new owner intentionally beached the boat on the Tomales Bay side of what is now the Dixon Marine Services, Inc. building in “downtown” Inverness. While the boat is on NPS land, one must cross private property to best view it. As of May 2016, the Inverness Store allows the public to view the boat from the east end of its parking lot. Please do not otherwise trespass on the private property in the area.

Maps:

Interactive Google Map

Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.

GPS:

38°5’49.529″ N 122°51’3.408″ W

Hours:

Cost:

No Entrance Fee is Charged at Point Reyes National Seashore

SS Point Reyes Shipwreck

Photo Gallery

Click Here for full page gallery

More Photographic Destinations in California:

Interactive Google Map

Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.

Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State