Civil War Shipwreck Named Florida's 12th Underwater Archaeological Preserve
USS Narcissus: Archaeological Preserve
Located about 2.75 miles off Egmont, Narcissus came to rest on a sandy bottom in about 15 feet of water.
Florida Aquarium
A Civil War wreck off the Florida coast isn’t a common sight. And one that you can dive? That’s cause for celebration, especially when the wreck has been named Florida’s 12th underwater archaeological preserve.
Built in 1863 as the Mary Cook, the steam tug was commissioned by the U.S. Navy, and renamed USS Narcissus. It survived the Battle of Mobile Bay but eventually was sunk at its mooring in 1864. At the end of the war, after extensive repairs, it was relaunched. The Union tug came to a horrific end of Tampa’s Egmont Key on Jan. 4, 1866, when it struck a shoal during a storm and its boiler exploded, taking all of its 26 sailors to an early grave.
Located about 2.75 miles off Egmont, Narcissus came to rest on a sandy bottom in about 15 feet of water. Despite its catastrophic end, many of the major features of the ship have come to rest in their original positions. (Some elements, such as the mostly intact engine, have toppled over in place.) Depending on sand cover, even some hull structure is still visible.
Its designation as an underwater archaeological preserve early this year by the Florida Department of State adds Narcissus to a list that includes a Spanish galleon, a river steamboat and a battleship.
“The USS Narcissus is a fascinating underwater preserve for divers,” Florida’s Secretary of State Ken Detzner said at the dedication. “And it offers a unique look at this nation’s naval history.”
Florida’s shipwreck preserves — which attract nearly 30,000 visitors a year — are created through partnerships between local communities and the state in an effort to protect Florida’s fantastically varied maritime history. Visiting divers will find the sites marked with a monument.
For more info and underwater maps, go to museumsinthesea.com.
Florida AquariumLocated about 2.75 miles off Egmont, Narcissus came to rest on a sandy bottom in about 15 feet of water.
A Civil War wreck off the Florida coast isn’t a common sight. And one that you can dive? That’s cause for celebration, especially when the wreck has been named Florida’s 12th underwater archaeological preserve.
Built in 1863 as the Mary Cook, the steam tug was commissioned by the U.S. Navy, and renamed USS Narcissus. It survived the Battle of Mobile Bay but eventually was sunk at its mooring in 1864. At the end of the war, after extensive repairs, it was relaunched. The Union tug came to a horrific end of Tampa’s Egmont Key on Jan. 4, 1866, when it struck a shoal during a storm and its boiler exploded, taking all of its 26 sailors to an early grave.
Located about 2.75 miles off Egmont, Narcissus came to rest on a sandy bottom in about 15 feet of water. Despite its catastrophic end, many of the major features of the ship have come to rest in their original positions. (Some elements, such as the mostly intact engine, have toppled over in place.) Depending on sand cover, even some hull structure is still visible.
Its designation as an underwater archaeological preserve early this year by the Florida Department of State adds Narcissus to a list that includes a Spanish galleon, a river steamboat and a battleship.
“The USS Narcissus is a fascinating underwater preserve for divers,” Florida’s Secretary of State Ken Detzner said at the dedication. “And it offers a unique look at this nation’s naval history.”
Florida’s shipwreck preserves — which attract nearly 30,000 visitors a year — are created through partnerships between local communities and the state in an effort to protect Florida’s fantastically varied maritime history. Visiting divers will find the sites marked with a monument.
For more info and underwater maps, go to museumsinthesea.com.
