Brig Amerika, Christian Stephansen

The brig Amerika belonged to Christian Stephansen of Arendal. Stephansen was among the early Norwegian shipowners engaged in regular trade between Norway and France, as well as between Bordeaux and New Orleans.

In August 1850, Stephansen advertised a direct sailing from Arendal to New Orleans. The vessel was commanded by his brother, Nicolai Stephansen. Passengers who had already booked passage were instructed to be aboard by September 8, bringing their baggage and provisions with them. The advertisement also stated that a few cabin and between-decks berths were still available.

The Amerika sailed from Arendal for New Orleans in September 1850 with about 120 passengers. While New Orleans was the immediate destination, some of the emigrants intended to continue onward to San Francisco. Many were attracted by the California Gold Rush and were traveling to America in the hope of making their fortunes in the gold fields.

The voyage illustrates how Norwegian emigrants in the early 1850s could travel by routes very different from those that later became established through the major North Atlantic emigrant ports. In this case, the passengers sailed directly from southern Norway to New Orleans, with some then facing a much longer journey across or around the North American continent to reach California.