The City of Washington is a wreck found east of the North End of Key Largo. The schooner turned steamship was finished in 1877 and had a length of 98 meters/320 feet. In 1917, as she was towed, she struck Elbow Reef and sank immediately (reportedly in just 2 minutes).
The wreck has deteriorated but the hull and keep are still distinguishable. Penetration is not allowed. Nonetheless, she remains a popular dive for snorkelers and night divers, with plenty to see around it.
Having spent so much time in the water, the City of Washington is overgrown with marine flora and fauna and is now home to numerous reef fish, corals, and sponges. Some of the species you can see here include nurse sharks, barracudas, groupers, parrotfish, angelfish, blue tangs, green moray eels, yellowtail spiny lobsters, flame oysters, among others.
