An elevated middle distant, port bow view, of the three-masted ship-rigged sailing vessel Granite State (1877) semi-submerged in the bay off Pedn Vounder Beach, near Porthcurno. In the background, at the end of the sweep of the bay's cliffs, is Logan Rock. In the foreground close to the cliff edge where the photographer was standing is a group of people in a formally arranged group. They are all facing the wreck with their backs to the camera. The group includes three young girls, four men and three ladies, one of which is looking through a telescope resting on the right shoulder of another lady. The ship has most of the sails furled on the yards. The water is lapping around the hull just below the upper deck bulwarks.

The ship arrived at Falmouth from collecting wheat from the River Plate and then proceeded to Swansea. Granite State hit rocks aft and was towed by the tug Elliot & Jeffry but, taking on water, was beached at Porthcurno. The flooding of the ship caused the wheat to swell and the hatches to come off. A gale on 5 and 6 November resulted in the main mast going over the side and the ship eventually breaking up.