Maple Leaf (shipwreck) facts for kids
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Maple Leaf (Passenger Steamer) (Wreck)
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Museum display of shipwreck artifacts
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | St. Johns River, Duval County, Florida, United States |
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| Nearest city | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Area | less than one acre |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001650 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 12, 1994 |
| Designated NHL | October 12, 1994 |
The Maple Leaf was a large steamboat that sailed in the 1800s. It is now a National Historic Landmark in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. This means it's a very important historical site.
The Maple Leaf was built in 1851 in Kingston, which was then called Upper Canada. It was a special kind of ship called a side paddlewheel steamship. This means it had large wheels on its sides that helped it move through the water. It was used to carry both goods (freight) and people (passengers). The ship was about 181 feet (55 meters) long and 24.7 feet (7.5 meters) wide.
How the Maple Leaf Sank
The Maple Leaf was a regular ship used for trade. However, during the American Civil War, the Union Army hired it to carry supplies and soldiers. The Union Army was the army of the northern states during the war.
On April 1, 1864, the Maple Leaf was crossing the St. Johns River near Jacksonville. Suddenly, it hit a hidden weapon placed by the Confederate Army. The Confederate Army was the army of the southern states. This weapon was called a "torpedo" back then, but we would call it a mine today. A mine is like a bomb hidden underwater.
When the ship hit the mine, it sank. Four crew members sadly lost their lives. This event was important because it was the first time a mine caused a ship to sink during the Civil War. Another ship, the USS Norwich, was sent to check on the wreck the next day. Its captain decided that the Maple Leaf and everything it carried was completely lost.
The Shipwreck Today
The shipwreck of the Maple Leaf is still in the St. Johns River. It's located west of a neighborhood called Mandarin in southeastern Duval County. After the ship sank, its remains were a danger to other boats using the river. So, in the 1880s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed the parts of the ship that were sticking up above the main deck. This helped clear the river for other ships.
The shipwreck was lost for many years until it was found again in 1984. A group called St. Johns Archaeological Expeditions, Inc. rediscovered it. Volunteers helped identify the wreck that same year. The site has a special number, 8DU8032, which helps archaeologists keep track of it.
The Maple Leaf shipwreck is very important because it is still in amazing condition. Many parts of the ship below the main deck are still preserved. It's one of the most important shipwrecks from the Civil War era ever found. It also shows us what a typical steamboat from the Great Lakes looked like in the mid-1800s. Because of its historical value, the Maple Leaf was named a National Historic Landmark on October 12, 1994.
