Niagara Falls Nostalgia - RMS Niagara and two USS Niagara(s)

I would like to thank Belinda Sawyer for breaking away from her busy schedule to give us a live report from the beautiful Malpelo and Cocos Islands. In three weeks, Belinda will report LIVE from the wreck site of the German battleship, Bismarck and our blog will have that exclusive story.

I would like to continue this coming week with ships that have a theme related to Niagara Falls.  The first ship that we will report on is the Royal Mail Ship - RMS Niagara. This converted luxury liner was carrying eight tons of gold bullion and hit a mine. She sank off New Zealand's waters on June 19th, 1940 in about 400 feet.

The other ships that we will report on are the two different USS Niagara(s). USS Niagara (the first) was built in 1857, served the Union in the Civil War and led a very long life. The second USS Niagara originally was called the steam yacht Niagara and was built in 1898. Because of the onset of World War I, the United States Navy purchased her in 1917 and renamed her USS Niagara.