SS America (1869)

History
United States
Name	SS America
Operator	Pacific Mail Steamship Company
Builder	Henry Steers, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Cost	$1,250,000
Laid down	1868
Launched	1869
Fate	Destroyed by fire, August 24, 1872
General characteristics
Tonnage	4,454 tons
Length	363 ft (111 m)
Beam	49 ft (15 m)
Draft	18 ft (5.5 m)
Depth of hold	31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion	Beam engine, 3,000 nhp
Capacity	92 passengers
Crew	103

SS America (1869–1872) was a ship for Pacific Mail Steamship Company operating on the China Line along with the SS Colorado, SS Great Republic, SS China, SS Alaska, SS Japan and spare steamer SS Herman.^[1] The America, which was one of the largest paddle wheel steamers in the world, was valued by Pacific Mail Steamship Company at $1,017,942 or about $40,000 less than the SS Great Republic or SS Japan.^[2]