National Marine Sanctuaries

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Shipwreck Database

Vessel
*Not A Total Loss

Ventura
  
Name (former)
 USS Reseca
Official Number
 25869
Propulsion
 Steam
Nationality
 US
Masts
  
Age
 10
Decks
  
Value
 180,000
Type
 Passenger Cargo Steamer
Call Sign

 
Use
 Commercial
Home Port
 CA, San Francisco
Tonnage (gross)
 775
Built When
 1865
Tonnage (net)
Built Where
 NH, Portsmouth
Tonnage
724
Built by
 Portsmouth Navy Yard
Displacement
  
Hull Material
 Wood
Length (ft)
 230
Cargo
 Wagons, linens, etc.
Beam
 31
Owner
 Goodall Nelson, Perkine Steamship Company
Depth of Hold
 20
 
CASUALTY
   
Latitude
36°18N
Longitude
121°54W
WHERE
Point Sur, first cove north, after striking Ventura Rock
STATE
CA
YEAR
1875
LAST PORT
CA, San Francisco
MONTH
04
DESTINATION
CA, Anaheim and Way Ports
DAY
20
People on Board
186
TIME
2100
FATALITIES
0
CAUSE
Navigation
NATURE OF CASUALTY

A thick fog and compasses faulty. Captain Fake was reported drunk at the time the Ventura stranded on the outcropping of rocks, two miles north of Point Sur. After the stranding, eleven of the crew left in two of the lifeboats, and were not seen until the next day. Wreck Report

Years later, the prop and rudder were salvage from the site.