AH-WR-0136

USS Shark

Naval Schooner · United States · Lost 1846 · The Columbia River Bar & Oregon Coast

A U.S. Navy schooner surveying the Oregon Territory wrecked on the Columbia River bar in 1846 without loss of life.

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Historically Reconstructed. Drawn from partial documentation of this vessel together with her known class and configuration. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

The Shark was a U.S. Navy schooner built in 1821 and sent to the Columbia River in 1846 under Lieutenant Neil M. Howison to survey the newly organized Oregon Territory. On September 10, 1846, while attempting to cross the treacherous Columbia River bar, she grounded on Clatsop Spit and broke apart. Her crew escaped safely and were assisted by the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Vancouver. Two of her cannons were later recovered and remain regional historical relics near Astoria and Cannon Beach.

Vessel

Built: 1821
Builder: Washington Navy Yard
Yard: Washington, D.C.
Material: Wood
Length: 86 ft
Beam: 24.6 ft
Tonnage: 198
Propulsion: Sail
Owners: United States Navy

Loss

Date: September 10, 1846
Cause: Grounding
Location: Clatsop Spit, mouth of the Columbia River, Oregon
Water: Columbia River bar
Voyage: Columbia River (Fort Vancouver area) → Pacific Ocean, en route to California
Cargo: Not established
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: 0
Master: Lieutenant Neil M. Howison

The Wreck Today

Depth: Not established
Condition: Broke apart on the bar; some timbers reportedly recovered and used locally afterward.
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Not established

Position

Coordinates: 46.23° N 124.03° W
Accuracy: Approximate position
Nearest: Mouth of the Columbia River, Oregon
Region: The Columbia River Bar & Oregon Coast

USS Shark wrecked while crossing the Columbia River bar on Clatsop Spit on Sept 10, 1846, per NPS Fort Vancouver historical records; coordinates given are the general charted position of Clatsop Spit, as no separate precise wreck-site fix was found.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Documented (85/100)

The wreck's precise position on the shifting bar was not established in the sources reviewed.

National Park Service, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Voyage purpose, wrecking narrative, and crew survival.
Naval History and Heritage Command
Build details and vessel specifications.
National Park Service, Fort Vancouver - Backstory for Campfires and Candlelight
loss location