When most people think about Georgia, they won’t automatically think about the rich maritime history this state holds. However, since the 1730s alone, there has been at least 1,200 historically significant ships which have gone down along coastal Georgia. Whether it be whaling ships, cotton schooners, WWI oilers or Civil War cargo ships, there has been plenty of activity along the coast of Georgia. Yet, this one particular shipwreck might just be the most famous of them all.

Coastal Georgia has seen its fair share of shipwrecks and maritime disasters throughout the past few centuries.

Flickr BEV Norton Perhaps the most famous shipwreck of them all was the SS Republic of the 1860s.

The SS Republic was a Civil War-era ship that sank approximately 100 miles off the coast of Georgia in 1865.

Flickr Cody Wellons This side wheel steamship was carrying a large cargo of gold and silver coins, plus other important goods on its route from New York to New Orleans.

However, on October 25, 1865 a violent hurricane hit, and the ship could not bounce back from the damage.

Flickr Andrew Malone Passengers and crew escaped the ship luckily, yet, a fortune in gold coins and important cargo sank to the bottom of the ocean.

The most heartbreaking part of the shipwreck was not the loss of gold or silver, but instead it was much needed cargo that was necessary to help rebuild New Orleans economy after the Civil War.

Flickr artist1066 Nearly 150 years later, an archaeological excavation in 2003 stumbled upon the shipwreck off the coast of Georgia, and used advanced robotics to excavate the deep sea fortune.

Over 51,000 gold and silver coins were recovered from the SS Republic shipwreck, plus a spectacular arrangement of 19th century goods used during that time period.

Flickr Eser Aygun For those who are wondering about the exchange rates from the 1800s, National Geographic claims that of the 20,000 $20 gold pieces on board, each gold piece today is worth between $6,000 to $9,000.

But what makes the SS Republic shipwreck so fascinating is that it set an important precedent for the archaeological standards that are used in deep-sea shipwreck excavation to this day.

Flickr David Ownership of the SS Republic shipwreck stands with a well-known deep sea salvage company known as Odyssey, who discovered the wreck after a long, patient 12 year search.

Have you ever heard the story of the SS Republic before? If you have other stories about famous shipwrecks off the Georgia coast, share them in the comments section!

Flickr BEV Norton

Perhaps the most famous shipwreck of them all was the SS Republic of the 1860s.

Flickr Cody Wellons

This side wheel steamship was carrying a large cargo of gold and silver coins, plus other important goods on its route from New York to New Orleans.

Flickr Andrew Malone

Passengers and crew escaped the ship luckily, yet, a fortune in gold coins and important cargo sank to the bottom of the ocean.

Flickr artist1066

Nearly 150 years later, an archaeological excavation in 2003 stumbled upon the shipwreck off the coast of Georgia, and used advanced robotics to excavate the deep sea fortune.

Flickr Eser Aygun

For those who are wondering about the exchange rates from the 1800s, National Geographic claims that of the 20,000 $20 gold pieces on board, each gold piece today is worth between $6,000 to $9,000.

Flickr David

Ownership of the SS Republic shipwreck stands with a well-known deep sea salvage company known as Odyssey, who discovered the wreck after a long, patient 12 year search.

Also, in case you’re wondering, we highly recommend everyone drop everything to go visit coastal Georgia.

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