Name/Title
Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue SeaEntry/Object ID
WHC 2014.28Description
Story of the search for the SS Central America, which was dubbed in maritime lore as the “Ship of Gold.” The 280-foot ship sank during a hurricane off the North Carolina coast in 1857, taking 425 people and up to 21 tons of gold to the ocean floor some 8,000 feet deep. The gold had been shipped from San Francisco down to the west coast of Panama, then sent by rail to the Central American nation's east coast and finally loaded onto the steamship bound for New York.
Several Mainers went west in the Gold Rush, and there was a local mother and her two children (Bowley family) who were on the vessel when it was wrecked and were among those rescued. She kept a journal during this experience which the author of the book references. It was in response to all those Gold Rush travelers that the Navy built and maintained the four shuttle ships (San Francisco-West Panama, and East Panama-New York) of which this vessel was one.Collection
Walsh History Center CollectionCataloged By
Heather MoranLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
BookNomenclature Sub-Class
Other DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsLOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
Gold, Gold rushes, Ship accidents, Ship captains, Shipwrecks, Treasure huntsSearch Terms
"SS Central America", CaliforniaOther Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
Other NumberOther Number
31896001133382Location
Location
Building
Walsh History CenterCategory
PermanentDate
October 21, 2025Condition
Overall Condition
FairDate Examined
Jun 26, 2014Examined By
Heather MoranDeaccession
Deaccession
WHC 2014.28Notes
Reason for Deaccession: transferred to circulationGeneral Notes
Note
Status: OK
Status By: Heather Moran
Status Date: 2014-06-26Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
June 26, 2014Updated By
admin@catalogit.appUpdate Date
October 27, 2025