Supporting National Register Nominations
California State Parks is in the process of nominating three Sonoma-Mendocino doghole ports for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, with reference to the thematic contextual background document “Northern California Doghole Ports Maritime Cultural Landscape,” authored by Maritime Archaeologist, Deborah Marx. SCHUNRS continues to conduct research and fieldwork to assist with the effort at Salt Point Landing (Salt Point State Park), Fort Ross Landing (Fort Ross State Historic Park), and Little River Landing (Van Damme State Park). In 2019, SCHUNRS President, John Harreld, and UC Davis, Bodega Marine Laboratory students, led by Diving Safety Officer, Jason Herum, identified 14 historic era items dating from the 1860s through the turn of the century, all located within Gerstle Cove. Ten were cut sandstone blocks on the seafloor, likely the result of accidental loss when loading the vessel. Quarrying was taking place at Salt Point between 1855 to 1868, concurrent with the landing’s timber shipments. The remaining three items identified during the survey include an anchor fluke fragment and two complete Admiralty-style folding stock anchors of various sizes; all of which are likely associated with the landing’s mooring system as they were located near the chute. This additional information has been added to the official site record and included in the nomination.