Credit: Nuestro Stories
Somewhere off the coast of Assateague Island, lie the ruins of two seafaring relics. Between 1750 and 1802 two Spanish ships, La Galga and Juno, wrecked off the coast of the island's shores.
The Truth and Fiction of La Galga at the Assateague Island
Part of the Spanish Royal Navy, La Galga was a warship that set sail from the Havana ports in Cuba, heading for Spain in August of 1750 carrying a multitude of weapons, sailors, soldiers, and crew. They’d been on the open waters for a little less than a month when a hurricane passed over the ship, causing La Galga to take on water. Attempting to steer her aground before she sank, the crew made it close enough to shore that of the 200 people on the boat, it was recorded that five lost their lives. While the location of the ship is still unknown, island legend believes that it sank into the sand.
Another piece of lore centered around Assateague Island was born from the wreck of La Galga.
The Chincoteague Ponies are a breed of horse that developed in a somewhat feral state on the island. According to legend, which was repeated in Marguerite Henry’s children’s book “Misty of Chincoteague,” the ponies were descendants of the Spanish horses that were on La Galga when she crashed.
The Tragic Tale of the Juno
While the shipwreck of La Galga for all intents and purposes, had a happy ending, the wreck that followed some 50 years later had a far different ending.
The Juno was a frigate ship that set sail from Veracruz, Mexico in January of 1802 carrying over 400 passengers, loads of silver and valuables, English war prisoners, and a mixture of crew and staff. Having to temporarily dock in Puerto Rico after the ship sustained damage due to a storm, the Juno set out once more in October, making its way towards Spain.
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It wasn’t long, however, before another storm would rock the Juno, causing the ship to take on irreparable damage. Though a neighboring ship attempted a rescue there was no way for them to get close enough to the wreck in the stormy waters. The Juno quickly sank, and the ship nearest to them, an American ship called Favorite, was only able to rescue a handful of passengers. The rest were lost at sea.
Things to Know Before You Go:
- While the horses are normally tame, they have been known to defend themselves if approached too closely.
- The Visitor’s Center is before the bridge on the Maryland side of the island.
- The Visitor’s Center houses artifacts found from the wrecked ships
Location: Berlin, Maryland
Address: 7206 National Seashore Ln,
Visit it, virtually
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