3 Exciting Shipwrecks In Maryland — Here’s Where You Can Find Them

MARYLAND — Bodies of water are a core part of Maryland’s landscape. Between the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, there’s a lot of water to explore, and hundreds of shipwrecks are hiding among the sea floor. There are even a few ship graveyards to visit in Maryland, offering access to dozens of shipwrecks in a single spot.

There are plenty of shipwrecks visible from land and an abundance of others that are only accessible by diving into the water’s depths. This guide offers a few sunken ships to visit throughout Maryland, along with the history surrounding each site.

Mallows Bay Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary

The Mallows Bay Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary is the home of hundreds of ships, and unlike a lot of the other shipwreck sites in Maryland, these vessels are visible above the water.

Guests often kayak through the sanctuary to sneak an up-close peek of the various ships lost to time in the Potomac River, most of which were made of wood or steel. Dating back to the 1700s through the 1900s, the ships you’ll see at this underwater graveyard are truly historic.

Dozens of the wooden ships at Mallows Bay belonged to the United States during World War I, and many now reside in the shallow waters of the National Marine Sanctuary. The U.S. ships were eventually sent to Mallows Bay, allowing people to collect and reuse their metals.

For a day of adventure among hundreds of shipwrecks from centuries past, visit the Mallows Bay Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. Many species of aquatic wildlife have made their homes in the sunken ships, so you never know what you might see!

Curtis Creek

Ships from the World War I era can be found at Curtis Creek near Baltimore. The wooden edges of the derelict ships rise out of the water for onlookers to see, and you may even spot wildlife around the long-lost vessels.

A particularly notable ship in Curtis Creek, the William T. Parker, is a wooden schooner that was abandoned over a century ago. It made the journey up the East Coast and then back down to Maryland, and this ship can currently be seen at the Baltimore boat graveyard by nautical adventurers.

Shipwreck hunters can take a kayak to Solleys Cove Park and paddle into the ship graveyard at Curtis Creek for an up-close experience. The park’s boat ramp allows you to easily transition into the water and find the many boats that have been left behind over time.

Alternatively, many onlookers report that the abandoned watercraft are visible while on the I-695 bridge, offering an easier option for seeing the shipwrecks in person if you don’t have access to a kayak or canoe. Visiting Curtis Creek at low tide offers the best possible experience if you want to see everything.

Take caution while exploring Curtis Creek, and ensure that you have permission from wherever you launch your boat before heading out onto the water.

U-1105 Black Panther

The U-1105 Black Panther sits at the bottom of the Potomac near Piney Point, Maryland. A German U-boat that’s currently a protected site, it was originally designed by Nazi Germany, but the U.S. Navy eventually acquired it at the conclusion of the war. It sank in 1949, and since only a handful of these were ever built by the Nazis, this vessel is incredibly rare.

The Black Panther’s creation came about not long before the end of World War II. In April 1944, the U-1105 killed 32 men near Ireland, and despite search efforts, it couldn’t be located after the attack until Germany finally surrendered. Reports indicate that it faced great perils on its trip to the United States, including a hurricane at sea.

Now located 90 feet underwater in the depths of the Potomac River, the U-1105 Black Panther is designated as a historic shipwreck preserve and can be reached by dedicated divers willing to brave the water. The experimental German U-boat is hard to reach, but it is possible for experienced divers trained in advanced techniques.

To find out more about how to dive to the U-1105 Black Panther, visit Maryland.gov.

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