Remains of Real-Life Shipwreck That Inspired The Goonies Discovered in Oregon

[Brian in Mesa]

Remains of Real-Life Shipwreck That Inspired The Goonies Discovered in Oregon​

Remains of Real-Life Shipwreck That Inspired The Goonies Discovered in Oregon

In the beloved 1985 cult film the The Goonies, a band of wonderful kids embark on epic odyssey to discover the long-lost treasure of the 17th century pirate One-Eyed Willy. Set in Astoria, Oregon, the kids who live on the Goon Docks brave being chased by criminals all while trying to save their...

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In the beloved 1985 cult film, The Goonies, a band of wonderful kids embark on an epic odyssey to discover the long-lost treasure of the 17th-century pirate One-Eyed Willy. Set in Astoria, Oregon, the kids who live on the Goon Docks brave being chased by criminals all while trying to save their homes from being foreclosed and destroyed so a property developing company can build a country club.

Stephen Spielberg was said to be inspired by the legend of the Santo Cristo de Burgos when he created the movie. The Spanish galleon set sail from the Philippines to Mexico in 1693 but never made it to its destination. The massive and completely vanished vessel, carrying precious and priceless cargo like porcelain, Chinese silk, and loads of candle-making beeswax was thought to be shipwrecked off the coast of Oregon.

From 1565 to 1815, ships like the wooden Santo Cristo de Burgos were key for global trade as they transported Asian goods between the Spanish colonies. The journey crossing the rough Pacific was treacherous and no hull remains from shipwrecks were ever found.

But all that changed in June 2022.

National Geographic just confirmed that exceptionally rare remains of the hull thought to be pieces of the lost Santo Cristo de Burgos were found on Oregon’s northern coast. In this risky and dangerous mission, which included the work of search and rescue teams, law enforcement, and archaeologists, the remains were removed from sea caves near Manzanita, Oregon.

The remains will be documented at the Columbia River Maritime Museum where they are now being held and will be further studied by experts so they can get a better sense of the creation of these great ships. And experts will continue to look for remains.