California Shipwrecks

Brother Jonathan Exhibit - Photo Exhibit

 

Picture of Brother Jonathan in San Francisco waterfront. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of Brother Jonathan before 1852 retrofit. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of Brother Jonathan after 1861 retrofit. Links to larger picture of same.
San Francisco waterfront with the Brother Jonathan in the background. Probably the Broadway and Vallejo Street Wharves. Sidewheel steamer the Brother Jonathan seen at top/center of picture. Taken by: Anonymous. Photo credit: San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, California Historical Society Collection. The Brother Jonathan before 1852 retrofit. Photo credit: San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, Doris Chase Collection. The Brother Jonathan after 1861 retrofit. Photo notes: Photo credit: San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, Doris Chase Collection.
Picture of front of Double Eagles $20 gold piece. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of front of Coronet Type $10 gold piece. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of front of Coronet Type $5 gold piece. Links to larger picture of same.
Double Eagles $20.00 Gold Piece.
This was one of the gold coins recovered from the wreck. It was minted in San Francisco, and was placed aboard the Bro. Jonathan for shipment to Seattle. Un-circulated pieces like this one have been recently valued around $6000 each (Bressett: 1999).		 Coronet Type $10.00 Gold Piece.
This was another coin recovered from the wreck. This piece was minted in 1849, the year of the California Gold Rush. The current value of coins like this one range from just under $1,000 to well over $10,000. This series was minted from 1838 to 1866 (Bressett: 1999).		 Coronet Type $5.00 Gold Piece.
This coin, minted in 1852, was recovered from the Bro. Jonathan Wreck like the others. Coins like this one currently carry a value from $170 - $8,000 for the "D" series (Bressett: 1999).
Picture of back of Double Eagles $20 gold piece. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of back of Coronet Type $10 gold piece. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of back of Coronet Type $5 gold piece. Links to larger picture of same.
Reverse side of the coin shown above. Reverse side of the coin shown above. Reverse side of the coin shown above.
Picture of dishes and crockery buried in area surrounding wrecked hull. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of first six items recovered from wreck. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of steam cylinder built by Morgan Iron Works of New York. Links to larger picture of same.
Dishes and other crockery scattered and partially buried in the area surrounding the wrecked hull. First six items recovered from the Brother Jonathan. Steam cylinder built by Morgan Iron Works of New York and installed in the Brother Jonathan with a rebuilt engine from the steamer, Atlantic.
Picture of port paddlewheel drive shaft and hub. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of steam and water piping connection boilers and pistons. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of The Del Norte County Historical Museum where the Brother Jonathan artifacts are housed. Links to larger picture of same.
Port paddlewheel drive shaft and hub from the Brother Jonathan. This was one of the features that helped identify the wreck as the Brother Jonathan. Steam and water piping connecting boilers and pistons. The Del Norte County Historical Society Museum where the Brother Jonathan artifacts are housed.
Picture of the actual newspaper advertisement for the Brother Jonathan's (last) voyage. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of glass bottles and plate. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of fine glass artifacts. Links to larger picture of same.
The actual newspaper advertisement for the Brother Jonathan's (last) voyage to Portland, Oregon and Victoria, B.C. These glass bottles and a plate are just some of the items being preserved at the Del Norte County Historical Society Museum. Miraculously, fine glass artifacts went down with the wreck without injury. These items are also being conserved at the Del Norte County Historical Society Museum.
Picture of an etching depicting the wreck of the Brother Jonathan. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of examples of pottery that were recovered from the wreck. Links to larger picture of same. Picture of Samuel J. DeWolf, Captain of the Brother Jonathan when she sank. Links to larger picture of same.
An etching depicting the wreck of the Brother Jonathan. Examples of pottery that were recovered from the wreck. Shown are two pitchers and a chamber pot. These items are still undergoing conservation at the Del Norte County Historical Society Museum. Samuel J. DeWolf
Captain of the Brother Jonathan when she sank.