Staten Island boat graveyard, Marine scrapyard in Rossville, Staten Island, US
The Witte Marine Equipment site contains approximately 100 deteriorating vessels scattered across the Arthur Kill waterway near Fresh Kills Landfill.
John J. Witte established this marine scrapyard in the 1930s, which expanded after World War II by accepting numerous abandoned vessels for dismantling.
The collection includes the USS PC-1264, a submarine chaser that made history as the first World War II Navy vessel with primarily African-American personnel.
Visitors need kayaks or rubber boots to navigate the site during low tide, as the vessels rest in shallow waters and mud.
The fireboat Abram S. Hewitt, now part of the collection, served as a command post during the 1904 General Slocum passenger ferry disaster.
GPS coordinates: 40.55550,-74.21574
Latest update: May 27, 2025 13:23
Around the world, thousands of airplanes, ships, and vehicles reach the end of their service life and are sent to storage or dismantling sites. These locations mark the final destinations of transportation machines: some wait in the Arizona desert where over 4,000 military aircraft are preserved thanks to the dry climate, others are anchored in Suisun Bay in California as strategic reserves, while still others are dismantled at industrial sites in Chittagong, Bangladesh, where workers recover metal from large commercial ships. Some of these sites have taken unusual forms: in Bangkok, former passenger planes have been converted into homes where residents live; in Alliance, Nebraska, 39 gray cars replicate the exact arrangement of Stonehenge. From Roswell to rusted wrecks in Staten Island and abandoned radioactive vehicles near Chernobyl, these locations tell the comprehensive story of machines that have transported generations of travelers and goods.
Outerbridge Crossing
4.3 km
Freshkills Park
3.6 km
Kreischer House
3.2 km
Mount Loretto Unique Area
5.4 km
Voorlezer's House
6 km
New Springville, Staten Island
6.2 km
Bloomingdale Park
2.5 km
Sandy Ground Historical Museum
1.6 km
Wolfe's Pond Park
4.2 km
William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge
5.6 km
St. Clare's Church
5.6 km
Jonathan Singletary Dunham House
4.9 km
Abraham Manee House
4.7 km
St. Andrew's Church
6.1 km
Olmsted–Beil House
5.5 km
Treasure House
6.1 km
Princes Bay Light
5.3 km
Woodrow Methodist Church
1.8 km
Seguine Mansion
4.7 km
5910 Amboy Road
3.5 km
Barron Library
4.9 km
St. Alban's Episcopal Church
4.8 km
Christopher House
6 km
Boehm House
6.1 km
Angelina's
5.6 km
Old Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne
4.9 km
Huguenot Beach
5 km
Annadale Beach
5.4 kmReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes