In his newest book, Shipwrecks of Marin, local historian Brian K. Crawford has done extensive research fleshing out the details of famous wrecks from contemporary accounts, and identifying more than a hundred wrecks not documented elsewhere.

Many of these are disasters within San Francisco Bay.

Marin County is a graveyard of ships. Its steep rock-bound shores, treacherous currents, and frequent fogs have been the doom of hundreds of ships for over four hundred years.

Many of these tales are full of danger and heroism, of pathos and high adventure.  Terrified passengers cling to overturned steamers or clutch at rocks in the pounding seas.  Seamen clamber up cliffs to escape certain destruction.  One captain runs two ferries aground and sinks a yacht all in one day.  The vessels range from Spanish treasure galleons to garbage scows, clipper ships to floating dry docks.

If you love ships and the sea or tales of danger and adventure, or if you just want to know more about the many wrecks that dot our coasts, you will find this book endlessly entertaining. In this illustrated lecture, Crawford tells the stories of seven of the most significant wrecks on our coasts.

Books will be available for purchase and signed by the author.

This book talk is brought to you by the Friends of the San Rafael Public Libraries.