These records are found in the online catalog of The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia. Uncurated search results are presented to give researchers and interested readers an idea of whether the museum’s archives contain information about this vessel and whether it may be worthwhile to visit the museum’s catalog search page for further investigation. Uncurated results may be inaccurate or incomplete.
Mariners Museum online catalog search, July 12, 2026. Search phrase: "Sweepstakes". Catalog returned 11 records; this selection table includes 11 records fetched through catalog result pages.
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SHORT DESCRIPTION: Colored lithograph of the clipper ship "Sweepstakes" by Nathaniel Currier and Fanny Palmer. Print is in poor condition. LABEL COPY: Extreme clipper ship built by D. & A. Westervelt, New York, in 1853, for Chambers & Heiser, New York. She made six voyages during her nine year career. Four were from New York to San Francisco, China, and return. Her last trip was to Australia, followed by several voyages in Oriental waters. In 1862 she went on a reef in the Straits of Sunda. ALthough she was floated and sailed to Batavia, she was so badly damaged that her captain sold her for scrap. (Length 235 feet, 1735 tons.) (label was used in 1953-54 exhibit) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: "The Old Print Shop Portfolio", June-July 1944, p. 229. Howe & Matthews "American Clipper Ships", Vol. 2, p. 646-649. Bland, J.C. "Currier & Ives Manual", p. 56. Museum Copy is not a first impression. Bland says, "After the painting by J.E. Butterworth". VESSEL INFORMATION: VESSEL HISTORY: The SWEEPSTAKES was the last extreme clipper built in the famous Westervelt Yards in 1853. Commanded by Captain George Lane, in 1857 she made the record for the New York to Bombay run in 74 days. She went ashore in the Straits of Sunda and was condemned in Batavia in May 1862.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK; RELATED PLACE: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 152 NASSAU STREET
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Colored lithograph of the clipper ship "Sweepstakes" by Nathaniel Currier and Fanny Palmer. It is currently believed that this is a Max Williams restrike. LABEL COPY: Extreme clipper ship built by D. & A. Westervelt, New York, in 1853, for Chambers & Heiser, New York. She made six voyages during her nine year career. Four were from New York to San Francisco, China, and return. Her last trip was to Australia, followed by several voyages in Oriental waters. In 1862 she went on a reef in the Straits of Sunda. ALthough she was floated and sailed to Batavia, she was so badly damaged that her captain sold her for scrap. (Length 235 feet, 1735 tons.) (label was used in 1953-54 exhibit) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: "The Old Print Shop Portfolio", June-July 1944, p. 229. Howe & Matthews "American Clipper Ships", Vol. 2, p. 646-649. Bland, J.C. "Currier & Ives Manual", p. 56. Museum Copy is not a first impression. Bland says, "After the painting by J.E. Butterworth". VESSEL INFORMATION: VESSEL HISTORY: The SWEEPSTAKES was the last extreme clipper built in the famous Westervelt Yards in 1853. Commanded by Captain George Lane, in 1857 she made the record for the New York to Bombay run in 74 days. She went ashore in the Straits of Sunda and was condemned in Batavia in May 1862.
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Oil painting on canvas showing the American clipper ship Sweepstakes running before the wind in the open ocean. By Montague Dawson. The ship is under full sail, including studding sails on her foresail, fore topsail and main topsail. She is flying a jib and flying jib. Her fore skysail is reefed. The ship is running towards the viewer with her port quarter and port side visible. The water appears choppy. NOTES: Sweepstakes was built by Daniel and Aaron Westervelt in 1853 for the California trade. She was known for a record passage from New York to Bombay (74 days), and for a race around the Horn with three other clippers. Of the California clippers which sailed between 1850-1860, Sweepstakes was one of eighteen ships which made passages between New York and San Francisco in less than 100 days. The fastest trip between New York and San Francisco was 89 days; Sweepstakes came in seventh, with a passage of 94 days. Sweepstakes made its final voyage in 1862, from Adelaide to Batavia. The ship went aground on a reef in the Sunda Strait during this passage, and was damaged. It was drydocked for inspection, and condemned. The ship was sold for scrap on May 13, 1862, for 15,000 florins.
Shows a view looking across snow and ice towards a pier where several tugboats and lake freighters are moored. There are three names in Stanton's notes that cannot be verified: W. R. Smith, Chas. D. Smith, and Moiles. Stanton's notebooks contain the following information about this item: "Bay City, Feb 11, 1896"
NOTES: A very nice little model of a typical Maritime Commission C-2 cargo steamship. VESSEL INFORMATION - VESSEL NAME: ELIZABETH SERVICE DATES: 1944 SHIP BUILDER: North Carolina Shipbuilding Co. SHIP LINE: Bull Lines BUILDER LOCATION: North Carolina, Wilmington VESSEL HISTORY: Built as SWEEPSTAKES by North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in 1944 and in service for Bull Lines by the 1950s. SHIP OWNERS: A.H. Bull Steamship Co. VESSEL DIMENSIONS: 459 (loa)
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Black and white engraving showing the battle between English and Dutch fleets 9-10 August, 1666; English fleet in crescent formation stretching to horizon, encircling Dutch vessels; smoke rising from burning villages on Terschelling island on horizon. 1666 NOTES: Holmes's Bonfire was a raid on the Vlie estuary in the Netherlands, executed by the English Fleet during the Second Anglo-Dutch War on 19 and 20 August 1666 (New Style, 9 and 10 August Old Style). The attack, named after the commander of the landing force, Rear-Admiral Robert Holmes, was successful in destroying by fire a large merchant fleet of 140 ships. During the same action the town of West-Terschelling was burnt down. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Cust, "Naval Prints" , p. 20. NOTE: TYGER also known as TIGER; BRYER also known as BRIAR; PEMBROOK also known as PEMBROKE; PRICHARD may be known as RICHARD. Cannot verify vessel data for PRICHARD, SAMUEL FORE, FOUNTAINE. Arnie Janot 9-4-14
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Builder’s half hull model, starboard side, made by George Steers of the schooner Sybel. The model is a basic representation of the vessel's molded lines, without constructional details. The model is not mounted on a backing board. The model is varnished and is inscribed in whitish paint “SYBEL.” The model has a plumb stem and a raked hour-glass shaped upper stern (no counter). It has steep deadrise and little or no tumblehome. There is a curved rocker beginning 8” back from the bow (long flat keel). It has a short entry and a long run aft. The model is constructed of 7 pine lifts. The lower 5 are flat. The bottom lift (1) is 25/16” and tapers to 0” at the bow. Lift 2 is 3/8”. Lifts 3 through 5 are 7/16”. The sheer curve is cut into the 6th lift. It is 19/32” amidships, 1-1/4” at the stern, and 1-3/16” at the stem. Lift 7 tapers from bow to stern. It measures 3/8” at the bow, 11/32” amidship, and 9/32” at the stern. Lift 7 is also the top covering for the model. The dimensions of the model are 26-1/8” (length overall); 3-5/8” (main breadth), 3-1/2” (half breadth), leaving a tumblehome of just 1/8”. Height overall is 4-1/16” (at the stern). The minimum half-breadth of the model is 1/16" along the edge of the stem and at the stern. It is unclear how the lifts are held together. There are a few variously sized holes whose purpose is not apparent on the face, top and back of the model. The model is in fair overall condition. The varnish is stable. The bottom lift (1) has been repaired at the stern with a new piece of wood 4-3/8” long. The same lift has another joint near the bow but the repair looks older and may date to the model’s original manufacture. At the stern, lifts 2 and 3 also have joints that may date to the original manufacture. Lift 2 has been repaired at the bow but is still missing a large chunk at the end. There is a large area of scratches on lifts 4 and 5 just below the ship’s name. Lifts 2 and 3, and 4 and 5 are separating at the bow. The screws for the hanging hardware have split lift 6 and has caused lifts 5 and 6 to separate at the stern. NOTES: The collection of half models MR 5 through MR 24 are of vessels built by shipbuilders Henry (father), James Rich and George (sons), and Henry Steers (son of James Rich), builders of the famous yacht America. The models document vessels built between 1805 and approximately 1876. They encompass all types of vessels from a catboat up to large steam sloop built for the US Navy. In a February 13, 1963 letter Howard I. Chapelle, Curator of the Division of Transportation at the Smithsonian stated “The Steers Collection is important technically and it is something we envy the Mariners’ Museum’s possession.” VESSEL INFORMATION— VESSEL NAME: SYBEL VESSEL TYPE: Schooner yacht DESIGNER: George Steers BUILDER: George Steers BUILDER LOCATION: New York BUILD DATE: 1842 DIMENSIONS: 40 tons SHIPOWNER: C. B. Miller; R. R. Patton; E. C. Center VESSEL HISTORY: • New York Daily Herald, July 18, 1845: Sybel took part in the first regatta of the New York City Yacht Club, July 16, 1845: The 40 mile course was from a line off Robbins Reef past a mark-boat off Bay Ridge on the Brooklyn shore, then past another mark-boat off Stapleton on the Staten Island shore, thence out through the Narrows and around the Southwest Spit buoy, returning over the same course. Sybil [sic], a 42 ton schooner owned by C. B. Miller came in second, performing the distance in 5 hours, 11 minutes and 28 seconds. (came in second behind Cygnet). • New York Daily Herald, August 15, 1845: Sybil, owned by C. Miller was one of the yacht fleet to visit Newport (Annual Cruise). • Sybil [sic] also participated in what was billed the New York Yacht Clubs first annual race on July 16-18, 1846. • The season of 1847 was opened with a match race on May 25th over the regular club course for $500 a side between the schooners Sybil (still owned by C. Miller) and Cygnet. The race was won by Sybil. [Yachts and Yachting: With Over One Hundred and Ten Illustrations, By Frederic Schiller Cozzens and New York Daily Herald, May 20, 1847] • Yachts and Yachting: With Over One Hundred and Ten Illustrations, By Frederic Schiller Cozzens: On October 26, 1848 there was an experimental match that was a race that separated the boats by rig. It was over the regular club course. Sybil (37 tons) participated. The wind failed and the race was resailed on November 3rd. Only two schooners participated Sybil (owned by R. R. Patton) and Cornelia. Sybil won. • Yachts and Yachting: With Over One Hundred and Ten Illustrations, By Frederic Schiller Cozzens: The Annual Regatta was held June 5 and 7th, 1849. It was the first race that included the yachts going around the Sandy Hook lightship. The Sybil was the only second class schooner to participate and thus won the race for her class. The History of the New York Yacht Club through 1973 by John Parkinson still indicates Sybil was owned by R. R. Patton. • The History of the New York Yacht Club through 1973 by John Parkinson indicates that a Sweepstakes Race was held on October 11, 1849. The schooners Cornelia, Sybil and Twilight participated but were sailed under close reefs because of high winds. The Cornelia won because the other boats suffered gear failures. Twilight finished second under foresail alone and Sybil behind her under only a jib. • Yachts and Yachting: With Over One Hundred and Ten Illustrations, By Frederic Schiller Cozzens: Cornelia sailed in the Annual Regatta on June 3rd 1852. This was the first time the vessels were divided by tonnage and not by rig. Sybil participated as first class schooner. • New York Times, June 4, 1853: Sybil participated in the opening races of the yachting season (June 2) as a second class schooner. • Reported in May 22, 1854 New York Daily Herald: Annual Regatta of NYYC had following yachts: Cornelia, owned by Vice Commodore Edgar, 90 tons, Haze, W. H. Duncan, 110 tons, Sybil, E. C. Center, 40 tons • New York Times, June 1, 1854: Sybil participated in the annual regatta. New York Daily Herald, June 2, 1854: We were indebted to the kindness of our friend Mr. George Steers for an opportunity of witnessing the race from the time the boats started till their return. Starting from his yard, at the foot of Twelfth Street, East River, about eight o’clock, on board the yacht Sybil, in tow of a steamboat, we arrived in due time at the first stake boat, which was anchored opposite the Elysian Fields. Here we found all the yachts trying their powers previous to the race, and the steamer Josephine, which had been chartered by the members of the club for the occasion. • No records of Sybel/Sybil past 1854 could be found.
WILLIAMSBURG - BROOKLYN - NEW YORK - UNITED STATES - Maker
SHORT DESCRIPTION: Builder’s half hull model, starboard side, made by George Steers of the schooner yacht Cornelia. The model is a basic representation of the vessel's molded lines, without constructional details. The model is not mounted on a backing board. The model is varnished and is inscribed in black-outlined letters filled with yellowish paint “CORNELIA.” The model has a slightly curved stem and an hour-glass shaped upper stern (no counter). It has steep deadrise and little or no tumblehome. There is a curved rocker beginning 13” back from the bow. It has a short, slightly concave entry and a short run aft. The stern is not square, its rounded starting approximately 5” from the stern, leaving a short stern post just 2-1/8” high. The model is constructed of 20 lifts that appear to be various kinds of wood (there are different grain patterns visible and lift 14 looks like a hardwood like mahogany). The lower 15 are flat. The bottom lift (1) is 7/16” and tapers to zero about 12-1/4” from the bow. Lifts 2 through 12 are ¼”; lift 13 is 5/32”; lift 14 is 1/8” and lift 15 is 3/16”. The sheer curve is cut into the 16th lift. It is 3/32” amidships, 1-1/2” at the stern, and 9/16” at the stem. Lifts 17 through 20 are tapered from bow to stern. Lift 17 is 5/16” at the stem and 1/8” at the stern. Lift 18 is 5/16” at the stem and 5/32” at the stern. Lift 19 is 9/32” at the stem and 1/8” at the stern. Lift 20 is ¼” at the stem and 1/16” at the stern. Lift 20 is also the top covering for the model. The dimensions of the model are 37” (length overall); 4-11/16” (main breadth), 4-9/16” (half breadth), leaving a tumblehome of just 1/8”. Height overall is 5-3/8” (at the stern). The minimum half-breadth of the model is 1/16" along the edge of the stem and at the stern. The lifts appear to be held together with three pegs that run from top to bottom. The pegs are square/rectangular on the face of the model but round on the top. There are a few variously sized holes whose purpose is not apparent on the top and back of the model. The model is in good overall condition. The varnish is stable. Lifts 11 through 13 and 16 have some minor loses at the stern. There is a gouge about an inch from the C in the ship’s name. There are a few nicks and scattered scratches. Lift 19 has a small losses about 7” from the bow and a square section of the lift has been cut out at the stern. (1-9/16” x 1-1/2”). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: See Yachts and Yachting with over One Hundred and Ten Illustrations, by Fred S. Cozzens and Others, 1887, image page 56, references on pages 18 and 24. VESSEL INFORMATION— VESSEL NAME: CORNELIA VESSEL TYPE: Schooner DESIGNER: George Steers BUILD DATE: 1846-1847 DIMENSIONS: 74’ length overall; 75 tons OWNER: William and Daniel Edgar CAPTAINS OR OTHER RELATED PEOPLE: George Steers (designer) SHIP OWNERS: William Edgar, New York Yacht Club VESSEL HISTORY: • On May 31st, 1847 a second match of the New York Yacht Club’s sailing season was raced over the club course and for $500 a side, between Cygnet and Cornelia, schooner of 90 tons, built the previous year for Mr. William Edgar. Cornelia took the ground off Ellis Island shortly after the start and was out of the race. [Yachts and Yachting: With Over One Hundred and Ten Illustrations, By Frederic Schiller Cozzens] • New York Daily Herald, June 3, 1847: Cornelia sailed in the New York Yacht Club’s annual regatta. o “The third boat in was the schooner Cornelia, white hull with green bottom.” • The History of the New York Yacht Club through 1973 by John Parkinson indicates that Cornelia participated in the club’s annual cruise to Newport and New Bedford. • She also sailed in the NYYC’s Second Amateur (Corinthian) Regatta on October 12, 1847. The race was sailed over the NYYC club course. The Cornelia did not finish the race, stopping some time after passing the Staten Island stakeboat. • New York Daily Herald, June 7, 1848: New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta held on June 6th, schooner first class (over 50 tons) Cornelia, 75 tons, Wm. Edgar. The Cornelia, the winning boat, was very skillfully managed by her owner William Edgar, Esq., and Commodore Thomas. She answered the helm in beautiful style, turning the stake boats, and made tracks on the homeward stretch, ploughing up the silvery wave against a hard wind, that perfectly astonished the oldest pilot on board. On beating up, she passed the Battery at the rate of 15 knots., with the sloop Maria, about a mile astern; and when passing the foot of Barclay street, the sloop Maria, in a sudden gust of wind snapped her mast; and her main sail, foresail and boom went overboard. When this accident happened, the Cornelia was about three-quarters of a mile ahead; and would, beyond a doubt, have held her own, had the Maria continued without accident. Thus the Cornelia won the race, making the forty miles, in a little over five hours, beating the Maria some forty-eight minutes…The winning boat was built by George Steers of Williamsburgh; and a beautiful model she is. • Yachts and Yachting: With Over One Hundred and Ten Illustrations, By Frederic Schiller Cozzens: On October 26, 1848 there was an experimental match that was a race that separated the boats by rig. It was over the regular club course. Cornelia participated. The wind failed and the race was resailed on November 3rd. Only two schooners participated Sybil and Cornelia. Sybil won. • Yachts and Yachting: With Over One Hundred and Ten Illustrations, By Frederic Schiller Cozzens: The Annual Regatta was held June 5 and 7th, 1849. Cornelia participated. • The History of the New York Yacht Club through 1973 by John Parkinson indicates that a Sweepstakes Race was held on October 11, 1849. The schooners Cornelia, Sybil and Twilight participated but were sailed under close reefs because of high winds. The Cornelia won because the other boats suffered gear failures. Twilight finished second under foresail alone and Sybil behind her under only a jib. • Yachts and Yachting: With Over One Hundred and Ten Illustrations, By Frederic Schiller Cozzens: October 13, 1849: Cornelia and Breeze sailed a match starting from Robbins Reef and around the Sandy Hook Lightship. Breeze withdrew when she lost her bowsprit. Cornelia sprung her mast but won the race. • The History of the New York Yacht Club through 1973 by John Parkinson indicates that Cornelia participated in the June 6 and 7, 1850 annual regatta. Cornelia was rated at 75 tons. • Baltimore Sun, May 5, 1851 reported: A race took place yesterday between the new yacht Cornelia and the pilot boat Moses H. Grinnell for a purse of $1,000. They went round the light ship and back; and the latter came in the winner. They are both schooner rigged, and nearly of the same tonnage. • Yachts and Yachting: With Over One Hundred and Ten Illustrations, By Frederic Schiller Cozzens: Cornelia sailed in the Annual Regatta on June 3rd 1852. This was the first time the vessels were divided by tonnage and not by rig. Cornelia participated as a first class schooner. • June 2-3, 1853 Cornelia (schooner, first class, over 50 tons) and Sybil (schooner, second class, over 25 tons) participated in NYYC opening season race. Cornelia completed the race in 5 hours 41 minutes and 30 seconds (28 minutes behind Una). Sybil completed the race in 5 hours 55 minutes and 10 seconds (behind Undine and Sport). • Reported in May 22, 1854 New York Daily Herald: Annual Regatta of NYYC had following yachts: Cornelia, owned by Vice Commodore Edgar, 90 tons; Haze, W. H. Duncan, 110 tons; Sybil, E. C. Center, 40 tons • New York Daily Herald, June 2, 1854: Cornelia participated in the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta on June 1st. • Buffalo Daily Republic, August 13, 1857: In an article titled “Yachts belonging to the New York Yacht Club. William Edgar is listed as owning the Widgeon (flag ship) which means he must have sold Cornelia sometime around 1855. There is a Cornelia participating, but she’s listed as being a Boston vessel. She does not appear in the New York Marine Register of 1857. • An extensive check of the registers of New York and Boston do not turn up any vessels of comparable size. In the Times Picayune (New Orleans), October 13, 1857 there is an article stating: Southwest Pass, October 12, The pilot boat Cornelia, Capt. Chism, sixteen days from Boston via Key West, has arrived. It later reported on September 24, 1860 the pilot boat Cornelia was damaged in a hurricane. (The pilot-boat Cornelia went ashore, and was badly damaged by collision with the Galveston.) and on December 13, 1857 the Opposition Pilots, Pilotboat Cornelia No. 4, Warren Chism, James W. Lyons, Horace Sherman, William E. Pendleton, James Scott, and John L. Dows. It’s unclear if this is the schooner Cornelia built by George Steers.
MS0095-1190
MS0091-03-01-54-105
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2020.0012.000003
MS0094-1940 Sweepstakes
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le2087![2020.0014.000003_1[1]](https://catalogs.marinersmuseum.org/media/FullImages/00032/2020.0014.000003_1[1]-tif637456231186907163.tif)
2020.0014.000003_1[1]![2020.0014.000004[1]](https://catalogs.marinersmuseum.org/media/FullImages/00032/2020.0014.000004[1]-tif637456237003362139.tif)
2020.0014.000004[1]