New Jersey Shipwrecks; 350 Years in the Graveyard of the Atlantic

New Jersey Shipwrecks takes us on a gripping voyage through the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," a name bestowed upon the state’s treacherous shoals and inlets. Before this coastline became a summer playground of second homes and resort beaches, it was a wild frontier of uninhabited and shifting sandbars. From the days of sail to steam and oil, ships (and even submarines) have been drawn to this coast. And, for thousands of vessels, it became their final resting-place.

Early rescuers braved the seas, rowing small boats, using simple buoys and rope to help the wreck victims. Others invented new technologies to assist in rescues. Quoting from original documents, letters and reports, Shipwrecks reveals the sense of duty and service which prevailed in these brave rescuers; many devoted their lives — literally — to help save the men and women whose own lives were turned upside down in stormy Atlantic waters.

From the early wrecks of the 18th century to the present day, the life-and-death drama of maritime disasters is captured in Shipwrecks, along with the history of the U. S. Lifesaving Service (later to become the Coast Guard), lighthouses, legends, and true accounts of heroism.

One hundred and forty-two historic photographs and illustrations are included in this large-format hardcover. The book includes a listing of hundreds of other wrecks along the Jersey Shore, as well as an index and bibliography.