City of Hawkinsville, Submerged steamboat wreck in Suwannee River, Florida.
The City of Hawkinsville is a submerged wooden steamboat resting in the Suwannee River near Old Town, now accessible to divers as an underwater archaeological preserve. The vessel sits at varying depths along the riverbed, allowing visitors to explore the remains of a historic river cargo ship from the 19th century.
The vessel was built in 1886 for the Hawkinsville Deepwater Boat Line and transported lumber and cargo along the river. It was abandoned in 1922 as river commerce declined and eventually sank, settling on the riverbed where it remains today.
The shipwreck serves as a Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve, providing researchers and divers with insights into 19th-century river transportation methods.
Visitors need advanced diving certification to explore this site safely, as it requires skill and specific training. Guides and marked routes help divers navigate the wreck and protect it from damage.
The wreck tilts across the riverbed, with one side just below the surface and the opposite side dropping much deeper. This unusual angle combined with the freshwater conditions helps preserve the wooden hull better than typical saltwater shipwrecks.
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