Snorkeling a shipwreck The City of Washington wreck in 2022 | Key Largo, Florida

Snorkeling in Key Largo the shipwreck City of Washington in the Florida keys, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. In this video I will show underwater video of a shipwreck called the City of Washington which is located in Key Largo, Florida.

Credits: https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/shipwrecktrail/cityofwashington.html

History
The Steam Ship City of Washington (SS City Washington), launched August 31, 1877, was an iron hulled steamer for use in passenger transport and the cargo trade between New York, Cuba, and Mexico. She was outfitted with two compound engines of 2,750 horse-power, with two masts for auxiliary power, as was typical for late 19th century ships. In 1889, SS City of Washington was refitted with two triple expansion steam engines, which became the norm at the time to replace the much less efficient compound engines.

The City of Washington's moment in history came the night of February 15, 1898. Because of deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Spain over the rebellion in Cuba, the USS Maine was moored in Havana Harbor to protect American interests. That night the Maine exploded. The City of Washington was moored close by and suffered damage to her awnings and deck houses by flying debris. Her crew assisted in the rescue of the Maine survivors.

This was the final event leading to the Spanish-American War. During the war, the City of Washington was used as a transport ship carrying troops. She returned to her passenger and cargo runs following the war until retirement in 1908. Three years later she was purchased and converted into a coal-transporting barge.

On July 10, 1917, the tugboat Luchenbach #4 towing the City of Washington and the Seneca ran aground on Elbow Reef. The tug and its second vessel were soon refloated, but the City of Washington broke up and sank.

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