The U.S. coastline is a treasure trove of maritime history. With more than 95,000 miles of shoreline and hundreds of years of naval activities, it is not a surprise that several ships met their fate in American waters. These wrecks are not just broken ships, twisted metal or sunken wooden frames; they are a capsule into the past, which have preserved tales of maritime commerce, trade, war, disasters and heroic exploration attempts to uncharted lands. In this article, we discuss the 10 historic shipwreck sites along the U.S. coast that continue to fascinate divers, historians, and maritime enthusiasts alike. 1. USS Monitor The USS Monitor was the Union Navy’s first ironclad warship built during the American Civil War. It is remembered for its role in the Battle of Hampton Roads, in which it fought the casemate ironclad CSS Virginia. However, the ship proved to be less seaworthy as it sank during a storm on December 31, 1862, 16 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Image credits: wikipedia It sank, taking 16 of the 62 crew members with it. However, the ship was rediscovered in 1973 and was designated the nation’s first National Marine Sanctuary in 1975. Several artefacts from USS Monitor, including her turret, anchor, steam engine, delicate glass bottles, wood panelling, leather book cover, walnut halves, etc, were raised and are on display at the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia. USS Monitor has now become an artificial reef and is inhabited by hundreds of fish species, like oyster toadfish, great barracuda, amberjack, black sea bass, etc. 2. Andrea Doria This luxury Italian Ocean Liner collided with the Swedish Ship Stockholm due to heavy fog conditions on July 25, 1956, 50 miles south of Nantucket Island. The incident occurred when it was approaching the New York Harbour. Image credits: wikipedia She was struck on her starboard side and listed severely, taking on water, making half the lifeboats unusable. The ship, however, stayed afloat for more than 11 hours after the collision, allowing the well-trained crew to save the 1660 people onboard, though 46 died as a direct result of the impact. However, swift response from other ships and proper communication averted a disaster similar to the Titanic. Today, its wreck has become a popular site for advanced divers, though it is dangerous due to the presence of strong currents and decaying structures. It has been dubbed the ‘Mount Everest of Wreck Diving’ and rightly so, as 15 people have died while exploring the Andrea Doria. 3. El Cazador This Spanish Brigantine sank in the Gulf of Mexico in 1784 while carrying massive amounts of silver coins from Mexico City to New Orleans. These coins were intended to boost the faltering economy of the Spanish Louisiana Territory, which was struggling with a paper-based currency not backed by gold or silver. Image credits: wikipedia It was discovered in 1993 by a fishing trawler, after remaining lost for two centuries, and historians highlight that if it had not sunk, the silver would have helped to stabilise Spain’s economy in Louisiana, preventing its later sale to France and then to the U.S. The coins and other artefacts from the wreck were studied and are considered great historical pieces. The wreck site is a symbolic reminder of the colonial maritime history and monetary policies. 4. U-166 The German U-boat U-166 wreck site lies in the Gulf of Mexico, 45 miles southeast of the Mississippi River Delta. It is 1524 m deep and 8