City of Hawkinsville (shipwreck) facts for kids
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City of Hawkinsville (shipwreck)
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Suwannee River, looking in the direction of City of Hawkinsville
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Dixie County, Florida, United States |
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| Nearest city | Old Town, Florida |
| Area | less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Architectural style | 19th-century paddlewheel steamboat |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000533 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | 31 May 2001 |
The City of Hawkinsville was a large paddle steamer built in Georgia in 1886. It was like a big boat with a paddle wheel that moved it through the water. In 1900, a company in Tampa, Florida bought it. The steamboat then carried goods and wood along the Suwannee River.
Over time, railroads became more popular for moving things. This meant the steamboat was no longer needed. In 1922, it was left in the middle of the Suwannee River. The City of Hawkinsville became the third Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve in 1992. This means it's a special underwater park where people can visit and learn about history. On May 31, 2001, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in the United States. You can find it in Dixie County, Florida, about 100 yards south of the Old Town railroad bridge. This bridge is part of the Nature Coast State Trail.
Contents
The Story of the City of Hawkinsville
Building the Steamboat in Georgia
In 1886, a company called Hawkinsville Deepwater Boat Lines had the City of Hawkinsville built. It was made with a wooden body in a place called Abbeville, Georgia. The steamboat worked for this company for 14 years.
Then, in 1900, it was sold to the Gulf Transportation Company of Tampa. This company was based in Florida.
Life in Florida and Its Final Resting Place
The City of Hawkinsville was the biggest steamboat on the Suwannee River. It was about 141 feet (43 meters) long and 30 feet (9 meters) wide. For about 20 years, it carried wood and other supplies. It traveled from Branford to Cedar Key.
Interestingly, the steamboat even helped carry materials to build the railroads. These were the very railroads that would eventually make steamboats like it unnecessary. In 1922, the City of Hawkinsville was left behind in the Suwannee River. It was near where a railroad bridge was later built. This bridge made it easier to cross the river without a boat. The steamboat still rests in this spot today. It is now a protected part of the Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserves.
Visiting the Shipwreck Today
The old steamboat wreck has become a natural part of the river's environment. It was officially added to the Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve system in 1992. Most of the steamboat is still in good shape. It sits on a ledge in the middle of the Suwannee River. You can even see parts of it from the water's surface!
If you want to dive down to see it, there are some rules. Only divers with advanced open water certification are allowed to dive there. Also, you are not allowed to go inside the wreck itself. This helps keep both the wreck and the divers safe.
How to Visit
There is no cost to see the City of Hawkinsville. You can view it from above or below the water. It is open for visitors all year round.
