City of Houston
Historic shipwreck · Offshore North Carolina, United States
About this site
The 290-foot City of Houston carried passengers and cargo between New York and Texas. Built for both sail and steam power, the iron-hulled vessel was caught in a severe storm off Frying Pan Shoals in October 1878. Water overwhelmed its machinery, and the steamship Margaret took aboard its passengers and crew before City of Houston sank.
BOEM’s 2017 survey placed the wreck at about 100 feet. Much of the hull has collapsed into a low debris field, while the steam engine’s A-frame rises roughly 25 feet from the seabed. The survey also recorded exposed boilers, hull framing, and stern remains.
What divers may find
Fish and marine growth cover the wreck. Earlier divers reported recovering toys, bottles, sewing machines, and other household goods; some finds are displayed at the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport. Shifting sand can reveal parts of the wreck, but past discoveries do not mean artifacts will be visible on any particular dive.
History and 2017 survey: BOEM archaeological report. Marine life and underwater photograph: NOAA Teacher at Sea. Reported finds: Southport Magazine’s interview with discoverer Wayne Strickland.