SS Monte Carlo facts for kids
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The SS Monte Carlo wreck seen at low tide near Coronado Shores on January 30, 2010
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
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| Owner | Associated Oil Company (1923–1932) |
| Ordered | 1918 |
| Builder | Liberty Ship Building Company in Wilmington, North Carolina (later the Newport Shipbuilding Company) |
| Launched | 1921 |
| Completed | December 1921 |
| In service | 1923 |
| Out of service | 1932 |
| Identification | US Official number:2223209 |
| Fate | Wrecked 1937 |
| Notes | Hull built out of reinforced concrete |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Concrete oil tanker based on an incomplete EFC Design 1070 cargo vessel |
| Type | Oil tanker |
| Length | 300 ft (91 m) |
| Beam | 44 ft (13 m) |
| Height | 24 ft (7.3 m) |
| Propulsion | Single Nordberg triple expansion steam engine |
| Notes | Started construction as the EFC Design No. 1070 concrete oil tanker Old North State |
The SS Monte Carlo was a special kind of ship made of concrete. It was launched in 1921 as an oil tanker named Old North State. Later, its name changed to McKittrick. In 1932, it became a gambling ship. It operated in waters far from the coast of Long Beach, California, in the United States. In 1936, it moved to Coronado, California. The Monte Carlo got stuck on Coronado Island on New Year's Day in 1937 during a big storm. Its remains are still on the beach today.
Contents
History of the Concrete Ship
Building Ships During World War I
During World War I, there was a big need for ships. But steel, which ships were usually made of, was hard to get. To save steel, President Woodrow Wilson approved building ships out of concrete on April 12, 1918. The plan was to build 24 concrete ships. However, only 12 were finished by the end of the war in 1918.
Even though most unfinished ships were canceled, one last ship was still being built. This ship was called the Old North State. It was the third concrete oil tanker of its kind. It was likely finished in 1921 and first named Tanker No. 1.
From Oil Tanker to Gambling Ship
Tanker No. 1 was used by the U.S. Army until 1923. Then, a company called Associated Oil Company bought it. They changed its name to McKittrick and used it to carry oil. The McKittrick was powered by a single steam engine.
In 1932, the McKittrick was sold again and renamed Monte Carlo. Its hull was filled with concrete to make it more stable. The ship was then changed into a place for gambling and other forbidden activities. These activities were not allowed during a time known as Prohibition.
The Monte Carlo became the biggest gambling ship off the California coast. It opened for business near Long Beach, California on May 7, 1932. This was around the same time as the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In 1936, the Monte Carlo moved to waters off Coronado, California. These waters were outside the area where California laws could be enforced. This meant the police couldn't stop the ship's operations.
The Ship Gets Stuck
In 1937, the Monte Carlo was anchored about 3 miles (4.8 km) off Coronado Beach. This was in international waters near San Diego. On New Year's Day, a big storm hit. The ship's anchor broke free. The Monte Carlo then drifted onto the beach. It landed right in front of where the Coronado Shores condos are today.
Since the ship was doing illegal activities, no one wanted to claim it once it was on shore. The ship's wreck can still be seen underwater when the tide is low. Sometimes, during very strong storms, more of the wreck becomes visible. The beach where it landed is now sometimes called "Shipwreck Beach."
Some people believe there might still be many silver dollar coins inside the wreckage. A local resident named Edward "Bud" Bernhard, who found hundreds of dollars from the wreck when he was a child, said he believed there was much more money hidden deep inside.
The wreck sometimes appears on the shore of the Silver Strand.
