The bark "COLUMBIA" (1862–1882)

The wooden bark "COLUMBIA" was built in 1862 in Geestemünde (now a suburb of Bremerhaven) at the Johann C. Tecklenborg shipyard. It sailed under the flag of the Bremen shipping and overseas trading company D. H. Wätjen & Co., and carried both emigrants and freight. 156 emigrants could be accommodated in steerage class, and on the afterdeck there was room for seventy 2nd class passengers and four 1st class passengers. On its return voyage from America the "COLUMBIA" transported freight.

Although in the 1860s steamships were increasingly being used for passenger traffic, many emigrants still preferred the more arduous but cheaper journey by sailing ship. The bark "COLUMBIA" was one of the last big sailing ships to be used for emigration. On the outward voyage the freight space was divided up into cabins with beds  to accommodate emigrants. This was a lucrative alternative for the shipping companies who otherwise would have had to load ballast on the outward voyage.