The year is 1877. The seas are mountainous, and gale-force winds scream through the rigging. The crew struggles with the sails as passengers brave the storm. Those those who have left England behind wonder if the ship, now known as Star of India, will ever reach New Zealand.
It did. And it’s still possible to wander the decks of this 212-foot-long vessel, which first launched five days before Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. Even better, this is not the only ship where visitors can see and touch the remnants of a different era. From 19th-century sailing boats to World War II battle warriors, venerable ships across America welcome guests to their decks…and bring history to life. All aboard.
America has just three fully operational merchant ships remaining from WWII—and this 455-foot Victory-class vessel is one of them. Step into the massive engine room, which stretches a full seven decks high (out of nine total); explore the crew quarters and galley; and have the kids crank the pivot on the deck gun. The ship also takes advantage of its operational capabilities: Twice a year, you can sail aboard during a memorable “Relive History” cruise.
With space for some 2,500 crewmembers, the 45,000-ton “Mighty A” was more like a small city. Today, you can stand up on deck underneath the ship’s massive gun turrets or poke around below deck in the living and operations areas. And if this classic battleship looks familiar, you may recognize her from her starring roles in two Hollywood blockbusters. Bonus: the USS Alabama is part of a park that includes a submarine, aircraft and tanks you can tour as well.
This Gato-class submarine sank thousands of tons of enemy shipping during her six WWII patrols, and she played a major role at Iwo Jima, when she sank two ships of a Japanese convoy in 1944. Now you can see the torpedo rooms (where crew also slept), wardroom, crew’s mess and engine rooms. If you’ve never toured a sub before, the tight space may induce a little claustrophobia—but that will give you a good sense of how tough the submariners had to be!
Look down the nearly 200 feet of ship, check out the 22 guns, and then look up to the three soaring masts, where 20,000 square feet of sail once flew. This sloop-of-war was built in 1854 and saw plenty of action even before the U.S. Civil War. It’s the last sail-only warship the Navy built and the last Civil War vessel still afloat. And it makes for a memorable sight, especially set against the backdrop of scenic Baltimore Harbor.
Climb aboard this 212-foot ship from 1863 and gaze up at the masts, imagining how the vessel traveled from Great Britain to India and New Zealand, then worked in the salmon-cannery industry from Alaska to California. Now part of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, she’s the world’s oldest active sailing ship and the oldest iron-hulled merchant ship still afloat.
This aircraft carrier, which saw plenty of action in WWII, was also the recovery ship for the manned Apollo 11 and 12 moon missions. Now you can see remnants of each era. Military jets and helicopters line the flight and hangar decks, reflecting the ship’s proud Military history. And the space program artifacts include an Apollo test capsule, a mobile quarantine facility and a Gemini 4 mission helicopter.
Have a boat of your own? Protect it with boat insurance. Get a fast, free quote today.
Next article: America’s Coolest Lighthouses
By Heather Steinberger
FAQs
Historically, prefixes for civilian vessels often identified the vessel's mode of propulsion, such as "MV" (motor vessel), "SS" (screw steamer; often cited as "steam ship"), or "PS" (paddle steamer).
What ships can you visit? ›
Experience the Royal Navy like never before
Actually climb aboard our celebrated ships, including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, and HMS M. 33, and get a first-hand experience of what life was like serving in the Royal Navy across the years.
What is the oldest ship that still exists? ›
Built in Boston and launched in 1797, USS CONSTITUTION is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world today. During the War of 1812 the ship gained fame and its name “Old Ironsides.” CONSTITUTION remains both a training and ceremonial ship for the Navy, as well as an educational experience for visitors.
What is the most famous battleship in history? ›
Why the USS Missouri has been described as the most famous battleship ever built - USS Missouri (en)
What is the most famous missing boat? ›
USS Cyclops
The Cyclops is perhaps the most famous of the early 20th-century seafaring disappearances. The ship, which had 309 men aboard, vanished sometime after March 4, 1918.
Is Titanic RMS or SS? ›
Today, the SS United States remains the largest passenger ship ever built in America. The RMS Titanic was the largest moving object ever built back in 1912, but its reign was short-lived.
What does HMT mean on a ship? ›
The ship's designation prefix was also changed, from "MV" (Motor Vessel) to "HMT". This was used for British troopships and could stand for "His Majesty's Troopship", "His Majesty's Transport" or "Hired Military Transport".
Can you put USS on a boat? ›
While containing some of the same letters, the USS ship prefix holds its meaning: "United States Ship." This prefix sees use on United States military vessels, particularly those in the Navy.
Are there any old wooden ships left? ›
USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
What was the most famous wooden battleship? ›
HMS Victoria was the last British wooden first-rate three-decked ship of the line commissioned for sea service. With a displacement of 6,959 tons, she was the largest ever wooden battleship. She was also the world's largest warship until the completion of HMS Warrior, Britain's first ironclad battleship, in 1861.
Yes. It is legal to sail around the world and many individuals have done so.
What was the ship that never died? ›
Such became the nickname of the Benson-class destroyer USS Laffey (DD-724), which served with distinction during the Normandy invasion, then later stood her ground against a withering and relentless combined assault from conventional bombers and kamikazes during the Battle of Okinawa.
What ship sank 48 years ago? ›
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975 — 48 years ago. A 1995 dive to recover the ship's bell captured footage of the wreck 535 feet below Superior's surface. The freighter lives on in popular culture thanks to Gordon Lightfoot's folk song about the ship.
Did any ships go missing in 1899? ›
14 January. A photograph of most of the crew of Andelana taken on her deck at Tacoma, Washington, on 14 January 1899. She sank later the same day with the loss of all the men in the photograph. The four-masted barque, newly arrived from China, capsized during a storm in Commencement Bay in Tacoma, Washington.
What is the most popular boat? ›
Sea Ray, with 54,266 boats, was by far the most popular powerboat owned by BoatU. S. members, followed by Bayliner with 32,712, Wellcraft with 17,565 and Grady-White with 16,487.
What is the most popular ship name? ›
Most Popular Vessel Names in the US
| Ship Name | No. of Vessels |
|---|
| Serenity | 486 |
| Freedom | 449 |
| Liberty | 352 |
| Osprey | 313 |
46 more rowsJul 19, 2020
BATTLESHIP YAMATO - In 1934 the Japanese begin designing The Yamato, the most powerful battleship in history.
