1950lemans
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2013
- Location
- Connecticut
I believe this is supposed to be the last blockade runner in existence. It’s located at Mystic Seaport Museum, CT. It’s a 70 ft., two-mast ship.
She was built in Long Island in 1862, sold to British interests, taken to Nassau and renamed the Alma. On her first attempt to run a cargo of rum, salt and guns into Darien, GA she ran aground and was boarded by a US navy party. Her captain (named Gordon from Maine), six international crewmen and a cabin boy were captured.
Sold at auction, renamed Australia, she served as a Chesapeake Bay coastal transport for eighty years. After that she became a DuPont family yacht. The family donated it to Mystic in 1951 where she was used as a dormitory for sailing classes. Mystic attempted to restore it in 1961 but because it was too costly they built a protective shed to preserve it.
Is this the last one? Are there any others?
Deck view below.
Looking below deck. There is a stairway built so you can walk around the ruin.
Some history panels on exhibit.