SS Central America

The SS Central America was a passenger ship that sank in 1857 off the coast of South Carolina during a hurricane. It was transporting gold and other valuable cargo from the California Gold Rush back to the East Coast. The disaster resulted in the loss of over 400 lives and significant amounts of gold. The shipwreck remained undiscovered until 1988, when its location and cargo were identified, leading to recovery efforts that brought back a substantial amount of gold. The story of the SS Central America highlights the dangers of 19th-century maritime travel and the impact of the Gold Rush on American history.