Waccamaw (1861-c.1884): An Analysis of a Double Ended Ferry Conversion

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

This presentation will examine the conversion of the 1861 New York-built civilian ferry, Nuestra Señora de Regla, into the Union Navy gunboat Commodore Hull. Processes associated with its post-war conversion back into a ferry renamed Waccamaw (based in Wilmington, North Carolina), and its final deposition off Eagles Island, North Carolina will also be explored. The primary goal of this presentation is to examine how and why this vessel was chosen and adapted for naval use, reverted to a civilian ferry post-war, and then ultimately abandoned. An analysis of the vessel’s features and use-history provides insight into how the United States Navy created a massive blockade which spanned from the Potomac River to the Rio Grande. Furthermore, an examination of Waccamaw sheds light on the versatility of its design and the constraints and considerations that were placed on those who interacted with it.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow