Here are some clipper ships that made the many voyages to California during the Gold Rush. These ships not only brought thousands of men and tons of supplies to California, but the companies that owned these ships were in a rush to get to California faster than anyone else. For a time, it was a clipper ship Baja 500 race to California. Of the thousands of ships that made it to San Francisco Bay, many did not make it out. They were bound together, filled in and a city was built over the top of them. I'm sure their are some still buried 60' - 70' feet down. These cards advertise each ships voyage to California, and are known as clipper ship cards, which are highly collectible.
"HERALD OF THE MORNING"
"SIERRA NEVADA"
"FLYING EAGLE"
This beautiful first class extreme clipper ship was built at the yard of William Hitchcock in Newcastle, Maine in 1850. Her owners were Frederick Nickerson & Co. of Boston. She arrived in San Francisco in January 1853 and her captain was John Hayes. The agents in San Francisco were Meader, Lolor & Co.
"HERALD OF THE MORNING"
The "Herald" was designed by Samual H. Pook and built in 1852. This clipper ship was one of three of his eighteen California clippers which made voyages of less than one hundred days from an Atlantic port to San Francisco before 1861. She was built by Hayden & Cudworth of Medford and owned by Thacher Magoun.
"NIGHTINGALE"
The "Nightingale" launched on June 16,1851, but funds were not in hand to finish the work. The builder, however, completed the ship, and she was sold at auction on Long Wharf to Davis & Co., ship brokers. Fortunately, Samson & Tappan of Boston bought her just as clippers ships were in great demand for California.
"SIERRA NEVADA"
This clipper ship was one of the most celebrated and one of the last extreme clippers. She became well known for her fast passage to and from San Francisco. She was built in 1842 at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, by Tobey & Littlefield. Her captain was Arthur H. Clark.
