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California Landmark Foundation

Brother Jonathan Memorial Cemetery

Overlooking the rugged Pacific coastline in Crescent City, the Brother Jonathan Memorial Cemetery is a poignant reminder of a maritime tragedy that unfolded over a century and a half ago. As visitors enter the park of the same name, they overlook the sometimes turbulent waters of the Pacific Ocean that claimed the lives of 225 people on July 30, 1865. The cemetery, dedicated to the memory of those who perished in the Brother Jonathan shipwreck, serves as a solemn tribute to their lives and a testament to the power of the sea.

Loaded with gold and redwood logs, the Brother Jonathan, a luxurious side-wheel steamer, was en route from San Francisco to Portland when it encountered a violent storm off the coast of Crescent City. The ship struck the St. George Reef and sank within minutes, leaving hundreds of passengers and crew members struggling for survival in the frigid waters. Only those 19 individuals who loaded the first lifeboat survived the disaster, making it one of the deadliest shipwrecks in California history.

The centerpiece of the cemetery is a large granite monument, erected in 1924, which bears the names of the known victims of the disaster. The inscription on the monument reads, "In memory of those who perished in the wreck of the steamship Brother Jonathan, July 30, 1865." Surrounding the memorial are the headstones of some of the victims that bear witness to the tragedy. Walking around these graves, visitors are reminded of this tragedy, the news of a shipwreck that sent shockwaves from this small coastal community to Washington, D.C.

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California Landmark Foundation

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Brother Jonathan Memorial Cemetery

One of the souls to perish on the Brother Jonathan that night included Dr. Anson Henry, the newly-appointed Governor of Washington Territory and former personal physician to Abraham Lincoln. His death contributed to Congress to fund the building of a lighthouse on the reef.

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Nearby historical plaques provide additional context and information about the shipwreck’s impact on the region and remind visitors of the harsh maritime environment.
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The site is maintained to keep the memory of the Brother Jonathan disaster alive, which significantly reshaped maritime safety regulations on the Pacific Coast.
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The Brother Jonathan Memorial Cemetery is dedicated to the victims of the 1865 Brother Jonathan shipwreck, one of the worst maritime disasters in California history.
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Visitors can learn about the remains of 19 individuals that were recovered and interred in Crescent City, along with the other victims’ bodies that were never found.

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