On September 8, 1934, the S.S. Morro Castle burned off the Jersey Coast while returning from Havana, Cuba to New York City, and 137 passengers and crew lost their lives. Many Jersey Shore residents courageously risked their own lives or provided assistance to rescue survivors from rough seas and recover victims who washed ashore or were pulled from the sea. The still-burning ship beached itself in Asbury Park just off Convention Hall and became a major tourist attraction until the charred hull was towed away months later to be sold as scrap. The disaster permanently changed American maritime history, leading directly to fire-prevention design in ships and mandatory lifeboat drills, and mystery still surrounds the events of that night, which may never be solved.
