BUILDER'S HALF HULL - Design for the American Sail/Steam Ship "City of New York", launched in 1854, the hull built up in twenty-two alternating layers of dark and light wood, the top painted black, with stem, keel, rudder post and rudder applied to the backboard; near the stern, the name "City of New York" is painted in raised yellow-gold colored letters, now faded. Displayed on the original 14 3/4" x 75 1/2" backboard. Age patina, small repair to top of deck along front edge of transom, edge losses to backboard. The "City of New York" was built in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She was owned by S. Thompson and her captain was J.S. Thomas. She hailed from the port of New York. Appropriated by the US Govt in 1861, she sank in a storm off the Cape Hatteras Inlet as part of the Burnside Expedition on Jan 18, 1862. She was carrying cannons and ammunition, her crew struggled for 40 hours to salvage what they could, all the men were saved.