The Star of Bengal: Alaska's Forgotten Tragedy    NEW!

Discover the compelling story of the Star of Bengal, a three-masted steel sailing ship built by the renowned Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Ireland, in 1873-74. Decades later, the vessel would meet a tragic end in the treacherous waters off the coast of Alaska.

On September 20, 1908, while transporting more than 138 cannery workers, the Star of Bengal was caught in a fierce gale. Two tugboats accompanying the ship were forced to release their towlines, leaving the vessel at the mercy of the storm. Driven onto the rocky shore, the ship broke apart in the frigid waters, claiming more than 100 lives. This course explores the ship’s history, its final voyage, the circumstances surrounding the disaster, and the human stories connected to one of Alaska’s most devastating maritime tragedies.