Here, before us, stands Helmet Rock a silent sentinel guarding the coast. Have you ever wondered how this rock formation got its unusual name?
San Francisco’s landscape is sculpted by dramatic geological forces. Helmet Rock is a testament to that power. It is a small islet near Lands End. This rock has witnessed countless ships sailing into and out of the Golden Gate.
The story of the Frank H Buck is closely tied to this area and to Helmet Rock. In March 1937, the oil tanker Frank H. Buck was en route to Martinez. It carried a full load of oil. A thick fog rolled in obscuring visibility. The SS President Coolidge, a large passenger liner, was leaving the bay. It collided head-on with the Frank H. Buck just west of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The impact tore a hole in the tanker. The ships remained stuck together briefly. The captain of the SS President Coolidge ensured the Frank H. Buck’s crew evacuated. Once separated, the Frank H. Buck’s bow began to sink. The stern drifted towards Lands End.
The Coast Guard cutter Tahoe attempted to tow the crippled tanker. The tow line broke. Further rescue efforts were abandoned. The Frank H. Buck broke in half. The bow sank. The stern ran aground on the rocks at Lands End, near Helmet Rock.
The wreck of the Frank H. Buck became a spectacle. It drew onlookers and photographers. It rested close to the remains of another shipwreck, the Lyman Stewart. The Lyman Stewart also built at Union Iron Works. It wrecked fifteen years earlier in a similar fog-induced collision.
Where the Frank H. Buck wrecked was also near where the SS Ohioan had wrecked only five months before. The San Francisco Chronicle captured an image of the two wrecked ships. Parts of the Frank H. Buck remained visible for many years. Some parts were removed or detonated.
Today, if you look carefully along the Lands End Coastal Trail, you might still spot remnants of the Frank H. Buck. Imagine the scene in 1937. The stricken tanker lies in ruins with Helmet Rock standing nearby. The dramatic collision serves as a reminder of the power of nature and the perils of the sea. Helmet Rock silently observed it all.