Across Dazzling Waters; Clipper Ship Contest

gouache, 10 1/2" x 15"

SOLD

After gold was discovered in California in 1849, fast ships were needed for cargo trade and passenger transport. New York City shipbuilders soon excelled at constructing the finest, fleetest and best equipped clipper ships. The clipper ship "Contest" was built in the noted shipyards of Jacob A. Westervelt in 1852. Its first voyage from New York to San Francisco took 100 days; the return journey was made in 80 days. Over the next decade, this ship made numerous lucrative trade voyages; in 1863, during the American Civil War, it was destroyed by the Confederate ship "CSS Alabama."