New Civil War shipwreck exhibit opens at Amelia Island Museum

This fall, the Amelia Island Museum of History will host a traveling exhibit exploring the story of the Maple Leaf. In April 1864, this Civil War–era steamship struck a Confederate mine and sank near Mandarin Point on the St. Johns River, about 30 miles upriver from Amelia Island.

The ship remained buried in the river’s muddy bottom until 1984, when Dr. Keith Holland developed an interest in finding and retrieving the Maple Leaf. The exhibit showcases a collection of recovered artifacts, offering a rare time capsule of Union soldiers’ personal belongings.

Developed by the Museum of Florida History through its Traveling Exhibit (TREX) program, this exhibition helps make Florida’s history accessible across the state. Thanks to the generous support of an anonymous donor family, The Maple Leaf will be on view at the Amelia Island Museum of History from September 19 to December 7, 2025.

A companion exhibit invites visitors to explore the mystery and beauty of the underwater world and archaeology as interpreted by local Amelia Island artists.

Exhibit Opening
Opening night will feature guest speaker Dr. Keith Holland, discoverer of the Maple Leaf shipwreck and leader of the excavation. Following his lecture, guests will enjoy exclusive first access to the exhibit, along with complimentary light fare and refreshments.

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, September 19
• Time: 6:00 PM
• Location: Amelia Island Museum of History, 233 S. 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
• Cost: Suggested donation of $5 for members and $10 for non-members
• Accessibility: Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The program is wheelchair accessible

About the Maple Leaf

Constructed in Kingston, Ontario, in 1851, the Maple Leaf was originally a Great Lakes passenger steamship. After changing owners several times, it was chartered by the U.S. Army during the Civil War as a transport vessel for Union troops.

On April 1, 1864, a Confederate “torpedo” (underwater mine) exploded beneath the forward hull near Mandarin Point, sinking the ship; four Black crewmen were killed in the forecastle. The vessel sank quickly, but most of its cargo—personal belongings of Union soldiers—remained preserved beneath the mud for over a century.

In the late 1980s and 1990s, Dr. Keith Holland and St. Johns Archaeological Expeditions recovered thousands of artifacts from the wreck. Today the Maple Leaf Shipwreck Site is a National Historic Landmark and one of the nation’s most significant Civil War archaeological sites.

For more information, contact Isabelle Bournigault at Isabelle@AmeliaMuseum.org or call (904) 261-7378 x.102.

Amelia Island Museum of History

233 S. 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, www.ameliamuseum.org.