SS Condor

The SS Condor was a steel-hulled steamship built in 1884 by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, Ireland. Originally named Queen Olga, she was later renamed Condor. She served various roles during her operational life, including passenger and cargo transport.

The Condor is perhaps most notable for its sinking off the coast of Oregon in 1889. On December 2nd, 1889, while en route from Grays Harbor, Washington to San Francisco, California, the Condor encountered a severe storm. The vessel, carrying passengers and cargo, was lost with all 33 people aboard.

The disappearance of the Condor remained a mystery for many years. Theories surrounding its demise included capsizing due to heavy seas, hull failure, and potential encounters with rogue waves. The wreck of the Condor was finally discovered in 2002 by a team led by shipwreck hunter Scott Price, approximately 4 miles off the coast of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, near Florence. The discovery confirmed the location of the wreck and offered further insight into the circumstances of its sinking. The sinking of the SS Condor remains a significant maritime event in Pacific Northwest history.