A powerful icy storm that slammed the Jersey Shore this week has uncovered a remarkable piece of maritime history at Island Beach State Park. According to state officials, recent erosion peeled back layers of sand to reveal the remains of a ship believed to be the Lawrence N. McKenzie—a schooner lost in the late 1800s.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection says the vessel, built in 1883 and measuring just over 98 feet, ran aground on March 21, 1890, while traveling from Puerto Rico to New York City with a cargo of oranges. All eight crew members survived the wreck.

Historical confirmation comes from the New Jersey Maritime Museum’s shipwreck database, which lists the Lawrence N. McKenzie as having its homeport in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Park officials note that Island Beach State Park is believed to contain at least two shipwrecks from the same era buried beneath its sands. Winter storms often strip sand from the shoreline, exposing long-hidden artifacts before calmer summer conditions bury them again. Staff are currently monitoring the exposed wreck and reminding visitors that removing or disturbing any historic material is illegal and may result in summonses from State Park Police.

For now, this rare glimpse into the past offers a dramatic reminder of the Jersey Shore’s rugged maritime history—briefly uncovered by nature itself.

Photos courtesy of Jersey Coast Emergency News