The Maple Leaf

Before the Civil War, the Maple Leaf was a luxury passenger liner, but in 1862 it was pressed into service as a Union transport ship. The sidewheel steamship sank in the St. Johns River at Mandarin Point on April 1, 1864, after striking a submerged Confederate mine. Preserved in the river mud for 130 years, it was explored by Dr. Keith Holland and the St. Johns Archaeological Expeditions, Inc., and in 1994 it was designated a National Historic Landmark shipwreck site. Artifacts recovered from the ship offer a glimpse into the daily lives of soldiers during the war.

Jacksonville, Florida · United States