NEWS
S.S. Central America Artifacts
USA TODAY
![Artifacts from the SS Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The SS Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/97c5678b-3956-4957-a27c-c4efa8406008-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_26.jpg?width=660&height=464&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Artifacts from the SS Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The SS Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![Hair and shaving cream containers from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/d0b09e28-467c-484d-8757-69f8f50dba75-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_24.jpg?width=428&height=660&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Hair and shaving cream containers from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A collection of debris, including gold dust, from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/cdd9d0f6-a349-40d5-ad2a-c2a57670b095-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_25.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A collection of debris, including gold dust, from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A pair of work pants, possibly made by Levi Strauss, from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/9fcfeceb-1459-4e4f-8341-bb6d191598d2-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_22.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A pair of work pants, possibly made by Levi Strauss, from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A smoking jacket from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/67515f71-26de-413e-874c-377ad310d95c-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_21.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A smoking jacket from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A Brooks Brothers shirt from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/5c519d50-d650-4b98-85bc-3bc57659116f-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_20.jpg?width=425&height=660&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A Brooks Brothers shirt from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A newspaper from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/16870fcc-f96b-4f1c-b68c-dc752b27bf30-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_19.jpg?width=660&height=452&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A newspaper from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A first edition of "The Count of Monte Cristo" from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/40e10b94-bccb-4191-ad07-387e7f6eb47c-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_18.jpg?width=660&height=428&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A first edition of "The Count of Monte Cristo" from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A pair of spectacles from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/ef2486df-5cca-4324-bd41-d8a919fd122a-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_17.jpg?width=660&height=428&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A pair of spectacles from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![Daguerreotypes, including one dubbed the "Mona Lisa of the sea," from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. Daguerreotypes are photographs taken by an early photographic process employing an iodine-sensitized silvered plate and mercury vapor. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/9892565e-930c-4e36-b42f-6b5fffa41672-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_16.jpg?width=660&height=312&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Daguerreotypes, including one dubbed the "Mona Lisa of the sea," from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. Daguerreotypes are photographs taken by an early photographic process employing an iodine-sensitized silvered plate and mercury vapor. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![Various artifacts from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/388d9162-303c-4f66-b0d9-1a59b920cf29-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_15.jpg?width=660&height=436&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Various artifacts from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![Pendants from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/37ac135e-6a7b-4c48-b36e-5bbff17670ba-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_14.jpg?width=660&height=551&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Pendants from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![Gold and diamond rings from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/c29ea485-589d-42f7-a645-7e4da224f9c2-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_13.jpg?width=660&height=529&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Gold and diamond rings from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![Room keys and tags from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/16fe2c2d-cad6-46bf-bbaa-197a65ac4463-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_12.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Room keys and tags from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A gun in its holster from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/0d9df1a3-0648-4e8e-9e68-f068512c2076-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_11.jpg?width=660&height=438&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A gun in its holster from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A sign for the saloon on the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/e1885ec7-3af7-4d07-a2a0-2de2e86dc027-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_10.jpg?width=660&height=399&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A sign for the saloon on the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A letter carried on the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/022e6894-0eab-440f-ac66-6c799272c8de-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_09.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A letter carried on the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A wax seal on the lid of a Wells Fargo storage box from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/488df6f9-d9a4-4168-bb83-ac5320480984-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_08.jpg?width=660&height=449&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A wax seal on the lid of a Wells Fargo storage box from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A leather poke, used to hold gold coins from the S.S. Central America, is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/8f07cc03-106d-4619-9137-cec5b7282d57-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_07.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A leather poke, used to hold gold coins from the S.S. Central America, is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A pair of gold rings from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/8c2c5895-b68e-42c9-a823-f4ee7585fd10-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_06.jpg?width=660&height=431&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A pair of gold rings from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A gold ingot from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/9e7ebdc4-ae27-45a0-b46c-1e849a0eac41-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_05.jpg?width=660&height=447&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A gold ingot from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![A gold coin and gold dust from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/a687a2e3-9cd7-4137-8f51-5d24e6a866b1-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_04.jpg?width=660&height=432&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A gold coin and gold dust from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![The lid of a Wells Fargo storage box from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/be6c6cbc-43d2-4c84-b9b6-19ae44849f23-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_03.jpg?width=660&height=450&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
The lid of a Wells Fargo storage box from the S.S. Central America is seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
JASON BEAN/RGJ![Artifacts from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2022/05/05/USAT/4ce5c9be-ea53-4a5b-888a-2f03757e7e97-REN_SHIPWRECK_ARTIFACTS_02.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Artifacts from the S.S. Central America are seen in a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada on May 4, 2022. The S.S. Central America sunk about 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina in 1857.
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