City Of Hawkinsville
Encyclopedia
The City of Hawkinsville was a paddle steamer
constructed in Georgia
in 1886. Sold in 1900 to a Tampa, Florida
company, it delivered cargo and lumber along the Suwannee River
. Eventually rendered obsolete by the advent of railroads in the region, it was abandoned in the middle of the Suwannee in 1922.
It became the third Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve
when it opened to the public in 1992. This was followed on May 31, 2001 by its addition to the U.S.
National Register of Historic Places
as CITY OF HAWKINSVILLE (shipwreck). It is located in Dixie County
, 100 yards south of the Old Town
railroad trestle (which is part of the Nature Coast Trail State Park).
.
After 14 years of service, they sold it to the Gulf Transportation Company of Tampa.
, The City of Hawkinsville transported lumber and supplies from Branford
to Cedar Key for the next two decades. Some of the supplies would include construction materials for the railroads that would end the need for the steamboat itself.
By 1922, only able to be run at a loss, the ship's captain sank the City of Hawkinsville in the Suwannee, on May 19. It was the last steamboat to ply the river.
, and venturing within the wreck itself is not permitted.
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
constructed in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 1886. Sold in 1900 to a Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
company, it delivered cargo and lumber along the Suwannee River
Suwannee River
The Suwannee River is a major river of southern Georgia and northern Florida in the United States. It is a wild blackwater river, about long. The Suwannee River is the site of the prehistoric Suwannee Straits which separated peninsular Florida from the panhandle.-Geography:The river rises in the...
. Eventually rendered obsolete by the advent of railroads in the region, it was abandoned in the middle of the Suwannee in 1922.
It became the third Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve
Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserves
The Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserves are a system of underwater parks in the state of Florida, USA. They consist of shipwrecks of historic interest, both off the coast and inland, and are open all year round, free of charge...
when it opened to the public in 1992. This was followed on May 31, 2001 by its addition to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as CITY OF HAWKINSVILLE (shipwreck). It is located in Dixie County
Dixie County, Florida
Dixie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,827. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 14,647 . Its county seat is Cross City, Florida.- History :...
, 100 yards south of the Old Town
Old Town, Florida
Old Town is an unincorporated community in Dixie County, Florida, United States. It is located at the intersection of US 19/US 98 and State Road 349.-Geography:...
railroad trestle (which is part of the Nature Coast Trail State Park).
Georgia
In 1886, the Hawkinsville (Georgia) Deepwater Boat Lines had the wooden-hulled City of Hawkinsville built for them in Abbeville, GeorgiaAbbeville, Georgia
Abbeville is a city in Wilcox County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,908 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wilcox County.- History :...
.
After 14 years of service, they sold it to the Gulf Transportation Company of Tampa.
Florida
The largest (141 feet long by 30 feet wide) steamboat stationed on the SuwanneeSuwannee River
The Suwannee River is a major river of southern Georgia and northern Florida in the United States. It is a wild blackwater river, about long. The Suwannee River is the site of the prehistoric Suwannee Straits which separated peninsular Florida from the panhandle.-Geography:The river rises in the...
, The City of Hawkinsville transported lumber and supplies from Branford
Branford, Florida
Branford is a town in Suwannee County, Florida, United States. The population was 695 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Branford is located at .The town is located on the banks of the Suwannee River. U.S. Route 27 and U.S...
to Cedar Key for the next two decades. Some of the supplies would include construction materials for the railroads that would end the need for the steamboat itself.
By 1922, only able to be run at a loss, the ship's captain sank the City of Hawkinsville in the Suwannee, on May 19. It was the last steamboat to ply the river.
Today
The wreck of the steamboat has become part of the river's ecosystem, and was added to the Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve system in 1992. Most of it is remarkably intact, and rests on a ledge in the middle of the Suwannee, able to be seen from the river's surface. However, diving is only allowed for those with advanced open water certificationAdvanced Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver is a scuba diving certification level provided by several diver training agencies, such as Professional Association of Diving Instructors , Scuba Schools International and Underwater Explorers' Federation...
, and venturing within the wreck itself is not permitted.
Admission and hours
There is no entrance fee to view the City Of Hawkinsville above or below the water, and it is open year-round.External links
- Dixie County listings at National Register of Historic Places
- Dixie County listings at Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
- City of Hawkinsville at Florida's Underwater Archaeological Preserves
- City of Hawkinsville at Florida's Shipwrecks - 300 Years of Maritime History
- Museums in the Sea City of Hawkinsville