The water surrounding Florida is a graveyard for thousands of ships - casualties
of shifting sands, coral reefs, and treacherous hurricanes. Today, these
shipwrecks are time capsules that reflect the history of maritime trade,
colonial expansion by sea, and the changing fortunes of European powers
in the Americas.
European empires increased their colonial holdings by enhancing their
naval power. Developments in ship design over the centuries are closely
linked with the history of maritime warfare and rivalry among warring
nations.
 SEA MONSTERS APPROACH A 16th CENTURY SHIP Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, courtesy of New Bedford Whaling Museum |
 In the Spanish colonial period, ships heading back to Europe sailed through the Straits of Florida on the Gulf Stream current. Hurricanes, shifting sands, and shallow waters made the passage between the Bahamas and Florida especially dangerous. Along with these real perils, European sailors feared sea monsters, creatures based more on fantasy than fact. In reality, pirates posed a more serious threat to ships than did the dreaded monsters. |
