National Register of Historic Places

Vamar Shipwreck Site

Mexico Beach, Bay County, Florida

Listed

April 9, 2006

Type

Site

Period

Listed

Ref No.

06000243

About this property

The Vamar is a shipwreck (which sank on March 21, 1942) near Mexico Beach, Florida, United States. It is located 3.7 miles offshore from Mexico Beach. It became the ninth Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve when it was dedicated in 2004. On April 10, 2006, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. 1919 - 1920 built as a gun boat for the Royal Navy, named HMS Kilmarnock 1928 - renamed the Chelsea after being sold to a private firm 1928 - 1930 Rear-Admiral Richard Byrd acquired the ship for his journey to Antarctica. He renamed the ship the Eleanor Bolling, in honor of his mother, Eleanor Bolling Byrd. During the voyage, due to rough seas, the crew nicknamed the ship the "Evermore Rolling". 1933 - the Vamar Shipping Company bought the ship and renamed it the Vamar 1941 - sold to Bolivar-Atlantic Navigation Company, registered Panama 1942 - March 21, after leaving Port St. Joe, Florida carrying a load of lumber to Cuba, Vamar ran aground, capsized and sunk in heavy seas in 25 feet of water off Mexico Beach, Florida (29°54′N 85°27′W) under suspicious circumstances. The pilot reported that the ship was overloaded and top heavy. Local suspicions that the ship had been sabotaged to block the channel into Port St. Joe led to a Coast Guard investigation, which was unable to verify the suspicions. 2004 - Vamar became Florida's Ninth Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Original Vamar Underwater Archaeological Preserve Proposal (pdf or MS Word format) at The Underwater Archaeological Preserves

Location

Mexico Beach, Bay County, Florida

29.89834, -85.46296

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Overview

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The Land

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Geology

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LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

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The Civil War

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The Soldiers

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Native Heritage

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Settlement

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The Community

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Rivers & Rail

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Finds & Access

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Literature

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Nearby Historic Sites

Cape San Blas Lighthouse at Port St. Joe

St. Joseph Catholic Mission Church

Questions about this property

When was Vamar Shipwreck Site listed on the National Register?

Vamar Shipwreck Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 9, 2006.

What type of historic resource is Vamar Shipwreck Site?

Vamar Shipwreck Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Vamar Shipwreck Site?

The period of significance for Vamar Shipwreck Site is recorded as the listed era.

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