Santa Margarita (shipwreck)

The Santa Margarita was a Spanish galleon that sank in 1622 off the coast of Key West, Florida, as part of the Tierra Firme fleet. She was heavily laden with treasure, including gold, silver, and gems, from the New World destined for Spain. The sinking occurred during a hurricane, which scattered the fleet and resulted in the loss of several ships, including the Santa Margarita.

The wreckage of the Santa Margarita lay largely undisturbed for over 350 years. In 1980, Mel Fisher's Treasures, Inc., discovered the main debris field after a long and arduous search based on archival research and magnetometry surveys. This discovery led to the recovery of a significant portion of the ship's cargo, including emeralds, gold bars, silver coins, and various artifacts that provided valuable insights into 17th-century maritime technology and commerce.

The recovered artifacts from the Santa Margarita have contributed significantly to our understanding of Spanish colonial history and the risks associated with trans-Atlantic voyages during that era. The treasure has been exhibited in museums and has been subject to ongoing historical and archaeological research. The location of the main debris field has been extensively searched, but further scattered remains of the wreck site likely remain undiscovered. The discovery and recovery of the Santa Margarita's treasure is one of the most significant shipwreck finds in history.