National Register of Historic Places

SS Tarpon (Shipwreck)

Panama City, Bay County, Florida
Listed
May 30, 2001
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
01000527

About this property

SS Tarpon (originally called Naugatuck) was a ship which sank in 1937 near Panama City, Florida, United States. The shipwreck is located 7.8 nautical miles (14.4 km) off the shore of Panama City. It became the sixth Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve when it was dedicated in 1997. In May 2001, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The twin-screwed steamship Tarpon was built in 1887, at Wilmington Delaware by shipbuilders Pusey and Jones. She was originally christened Naugatuck. She was 130 feet (40 m) long, and her beam was 26 feet (7.9 m). The superstructure and passenger areas of the vessel were wood and the hull was iron. She was powered by twin steam engines driving iron screws. The ship was sent back to the manufacturer in 1891, after being sold by the original owner. The hull was lengthened by 30 feet (9.1 m) and she was renamed Tarpon. In 1902 she was sold to The Pensacola, St Andrews, and Gulf Steamship Company. Captain Willis Green Barrow took command, and captained the ship for 30 years. Tarpon sailed weekly runs from Mobile, Pensacola, St. Andrews Bay, Apalachicola, and Carrabelle, making the trip 1,735 times. On September 1, 1937 Tarpon foundered two days after departing from Mobile with 200 tons of cargo and a crew of 25, and stopping in Pensacola. Despite a forecast of calm weather, the wind began to pick up, and the heavily-laden ship took on water in the high seas and sank while traveling to Panama City, Florida. Only one sailor, Addley Baker, survived and swam 25 miles (40 km) to shore, while the other 24 drowned. Bay County listings at National Register of Historic Places SS Tarpon at Florida's Underwater Archaeological Preserves SS Tarpon Underwater Archaeological Preserve at Florida Heritage Tourism Interactive Catalog

Location

Panama City, Bay County, Florida
30.12340, -85.94573

Categories

MARITIME HISTORYTRANSPORTATIONHISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINAL
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Camp Helen Historic District
Modern
10.7 mi
Latimer Cabin
Industrial
11 mi
Panama City Publishing Company Building
Industrial
14.9 mi
St. Andrew School
Industrial
15 mi
Payne, A.A.-Christo, John Sr., House
Industrial
16.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was SS Tarpon (Shipwreck) listed on the National Register?

SS Tarpon (Shipwreck) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 30, 2001.

What type of historic resource is SS Tarpon (Shipwreck)?

SS Tarpon (Shipwreck) is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for SS Tarpon (Shipwreck)?

The period of significance for SS Tarpon (Shipwreck) is recorded as the listed era.

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