Steamship Historical Society
@shiphistory.bsky.social
Through recording, preserving, and educating, our mission is to share the impact of engine-powered vessels, their crews, and their passengers with future generations. Find out about programs, membership, and free educational materials at sshsa.org.
Across the US, pilotage remained a profession for white men until the late twentieth century. In 1983, Captain Paul Brown became the first Black Houston Pilot and the second in the nation.
December 16, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Across the US, pilotage remained a profession for white men until the late twentieth century. In 1983, Captain Paul Brown became the first Black Houston Pilot and the second in the nation.
This poster for Holland-America line, in French, advertises services between Rotterdam, Boulogne, and New York, and features the ship POTSDAM steaming into a harbor accompanied by tugs on a yellow background. Stephen Barrett Chase Collection, SSHSA Archives.
December 15, 2025 at 5:29 PM
This poster for Holland-America line, in French, advertises services between Rotterdam, Boulogne, and New York, and features the ship POTSDAM steaming into a harbor accompanied by tugs on a yellow background. Stephen Barrett Chase Collection, SSHSA Archives.
The Canadian Pacific's EMPRESS OF CANADA b) MARDI GRAS was pictured #OnThisDay in 1970 at New York in her later Canadian Pacific Steamships colors. The vessel was built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1961. Braun Brothers Collection, SSHSA Archives.
December 12, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The Canadian Pacific's EMPRESS OF CANADA b) MARDI GRAS was pictured #OnThisDay in 1970 at New York in her later Canadian Pacific Steamships colors. The vessel was built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1961. Braun Brothers Collection, SSHSA Archives.
It has a rather unusual model design with drawers that were integrated into hull, containing small furnishings and fittings that illustrate the interior layout.
December 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM
It has a rather unusual model design with drawers that were integrated into hull, containing small furnishings and fittings that illustrate the interior layout.
'Tis the season! The elves are back at the Ship History Center and today they were found playing with one of our more unique models of the T/S BALTIKA. This scratch built model of Soviet Baltic Sea Shipping Company's BALTIKA was made c. 1940. SSHSA Artifact Collection.
December 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM
'Tis the season! The elves are back at the Ship History Center and today they were found playing with one of our more unique models of the T/S BALTIKA. This scratch built model of Soviet Baltic Sea Shipping Company's BALTIKA was made c. 1940. SSHSA Artifact Collection.
We are steaming toward our next issue. Join or renew now and don't miss the boat! We are putting together the distribution for our next issue of PowerShips, so if you need to renew or join, now is the time. You can renew online at shiphistory.org/join or call us at 401-463-3570.
December 10, 2025 at 12:37 PM
We are steaming toward our next issue. Join or renew now and don't miss the boat! We are putting together the distribution for our next issue of PowerShips, so if you need to renew or join, now is the time. You can renew online at shiphistory.org/join or call us at 401-463-3570.
#OnThisDay in 1967, the RMS QUEEN MARY arrived in Long Beach, California.
Images from the SSHSA Artifact Collection: White ceramic plate with polychrome design. Three piece hand-decorated ceramic set. Souvenir from ship's time as a static attraction in Long Beach, CA.
#MaritimeHistory
Images from the SSHSA Artifact Collection: White ceramic plate with polychrome design. Three piece hand-decorated ceramic set. Souvenir from ship's time as a static attraction in Long Beach, CA.
#MaritimeHistory
December 9, 2025 at 4:46 PM
#OnThisDay in 1967, the RMS QUEEN MARY arrived in Long Beach, California.
Images from the SSHSA Artifact Collection: White ceramic plate with polychrome design. Three piece hand-decorated ceramic set. Souvenir from ship's time as a static attraction in Long Beach, CA.
#MaritimeHistory
Images from the SSHSA Artifact Collection: White ceramic plate with polychrome design. Three piece hand-decorated ceramic set. Souvenir from ship's time as a static attraction in Long Beach, CA.
#MaritimeHistory
Images: Tattered American flag flies at half mast in front of black smoke and flames. Quote is from Lincoln's Gettysburg address. Boston Public Library, Print Department.
Japanese Americans in front of poster with internment orders, April 25, 1942. Photo by Dorothea Lange, National Archives.
Japanese Americans in front of poster with internment orders, April 25, 1942. Photo by Dorothea Lange, National Archives.
December 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Images: Tattered American flag flies at half mast in front of black smoke and flames. Quote is from Lincoln's Gettysburg address. Boston Public Library, Print Department.
Japanese Americans in front of poster with internment orders, April 25, 1942. Photo by Dorothea Lange, National Archives.
Japanese Americans in front of poster with internment orders, April 25, 1942. Photo by Dorothea Lange, National Archives.
#PearlHarborDay is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 Americans who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The United States declared war on Japan #OnThisDay in 1941, entering World War II.
December 8, 2025 at 12:58 PM
#PearlHarborDay is observed annually in the United States on December 7, to remember and honor the 2,403 Americans who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The United States declared war on Japan #OnThisDay in 1941, entering World War II.
SSHSA is proud to present William G. Muller’s publication, entitled “The Maritime Art of William G. Muller: Memories from the Age of Steam.” Purchase in the Ship Store at shiphistory.org/product/mari....
Keep reading for more info....
Keep reading for more info....
December 5, 2025 at 1:17 PM
SSHSA is proud to present William G. Muller’s publication, entitled “The Maritime Art of William G. Muller: Memories from the Age of Steam.” Purchase in the Ship Store at shiphistory.org/product/mari....
Keep reading for more info....
Keep reading for more info....
'Tis the season! Consider purchasing a gift membership to SSHSA! In addition to regular membership benefits like our quarterly PowerShips magazine, recipients will also receive 6 notecards, and additional issue of Powerships, and a letter letting them know it's from you.
December 4, 2025 at 2:34 PM
'Tis the season! Consider purchasing a gift membership to SSHSA! In addition to regular membership benefits like our quarterly PowerShips magazine, recipients will also receive 6 notecards, and additional issue of Powerships, and a letter letting them know it's from you.
Published by the Hudson River Day Line, this thick booklet features summer tours, attractions, and lodging options in the Catskill Mountains. Claire (Koch) Tholl Collection, SSHSA Archives.
December 3, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Published by the Hudson River Day Line, this thick booklet features summer tours, attractions, and lodging options in the Catskill Mountains. Claire (Koch) Tholl Collection, SSHSA Archives.
It's #GivingTuesday, so why not support SSHSA? Your support ensures that our education programs remain free, that we can preserve and care for our collections, and that we can properly staff our organization to continuing providing PowerShips magazine to our members.
December 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM
It's #GivingTuesday, so why not support SSHSA? Your support ensures that our education programs remain free, that we can preserve and care for our collections, and that we can properly staff our organization to continuing providing PowerShips magazine to our members.
#OnThisDay in 1911, Elmo N. Pickerill received his line-crossing certificate for crossing the equator on board Lamport & Holt Line's SS VASARI. Elmo N. Pickerill Collection, SSHSA Archives.
December 1, 2025 at 1:12 PM
#OnThisDay in 1911, Elmo N. Pickerill received his line-crossing certificate for crossing the equator on board Lamport & Holt Line's SS VASARI. Elmo N. Pickerill Collection, SSHSA Archives.
Need a gift for the maritime enthusiast who has everything? Give the gift of membership to SSHSA. In addition to our regular benefits, now through December 31st we'll include additional gifts packaged in a festive mailer.
November 28, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Need a gift for the maritime enthusiast who has everything? Give the gift of membership to SSHSA. In addition to our regular benefits, now through December 31st we'll include additional gifts packaged in a festive mailer.
Our Ephemera Collection at the SSHSA Archives has a variety of paper goods meant for one time use like napkins, brochures, & menus. Here, you can see what passengers would have eaten for a #Thanksgiving meal at sea on board the United Fruit Company's SIXAOLA on November 28, 1929. #MaritimeHistory
November 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Our Ephemera Collection at the SSHSA Archives has a variety of paper goods meant for one time use like napkins, brochures, & menus. Here, you can see what passengers would have eaten for a #Thanksgiving meal at sea on board the United Fruit Company's SIXAOLA on November 28, 1929. #MaritimeHistory
It’s time to captain our year-end fundraiser as class leaders, hand over hand!
Celebrating 90 years on November 10th, our goal is to continue honoring nine decades of recording, preserving, & educating maritime enthusiasts around the world with success.
Donate today at shiphistory.org/support/.
Celebrating 90 years on November 10th, our goal is to continue honoring nine decades of recording, preserving, & educating maritime enthusiasts around the world with success.
Donate today at shiphistory.org/support/.
November 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
It’s time to captain our year-end fundraiser as class leaders, hand over hand!
Celebrating 90 years on November 10th, our goal is to continue honoring nine decades of recording, preserving, & educating maritime enthusiasts around the world with success.
Donate today at shiphistory.org/support/.
Celebrating 90 years on November 10th, our goal is to continue honoring nine decades of recording, preserving, & educating maritime enthusiasts around the world with success.
Donate today at shiphistory.org/support/.
Ahoy! A new episode of Ship History Radio is out today and we're collaborating with History Daily from award winning podcasters Airship and Noiser. On this episode you'll hear from Host Lindsay Graham about the LACONIA Incident.
November 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Ahoy! A new episode of Ship History Radio is out today and we're collaborating with History Daily from award winning podcasters Airship and Noiser. On this episode you'll hear from Host Lindsay Graham about the LACONIA Incident.
This Blue Star Line poster, c. 1925, from the Stephen Barrett Chase Collection at SSHSA Archives is promoting services to South America and features an illustration of a steamship accompanied by small craft signed by Norman Wilkinson.
November 24, 2025 at 2:36 PM
This Blue Star Line poster, c. 1925, from the Stephen Barrett Chase Collection at SSHSA Archives is promoting services to South America and features an illustration of a steamship accompanied by small craft signed by Norman Wilkinson.
These photos by Dudley J. Berson, taken in January 1962, show a cruise from New York on the Home Lines' ITALIA. Digitized from 35mm slides. D. Jordan Berson Collection, SSHSA Archives.
Learn more about our archives and collections at shiphistory.org/collections/.
Learn more about our archives and collections at shiphistory.org/collections/.
November 21, 2025 at 4:42 PM
These photos by Dudley J. Berson, taken in January 1962, show a cruise from New York on the Home Lines' ITALIA. Digitized from 35mm slides. D. Jordan Berson Collection, SSHSA Archives.
Learn more about our archives and collections at shiphistory.org/collections/.
Learn more about our archives and collections at shiphistory.org/collections/.
This rectangular paper dinner menu from the North German Lloyd ocean liner KAISER WILHELM II is dated September 21, 1910. The cover bears an illustration of a cotton plantation scene in the US American south, with two workers riding on horseback.
November 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
This rectangular paper dinner menu from the North German Lloyd ocean liner KAISER WILHELM II is dated September 21, 1910. The cover bears an illustration of a cotton plantation scene in the US American south, with two workers riding on horseback.
We are celebrating the Steamship Historical Society of America's 90th anniversary by giving away 90 FREE issues of PowerShips Magazine (Fall 2025, No. 335). We hope you love it and join us as we steam forward into the next 90 years, but there’s no obligation.
November 17, 2025 at 8:21 PM
We are celebrating the Steamship Historical Society of America's 90th anniversary by giving away 90 FREE issues of PowerShips Magazine (Fall 2025, No. 335). We hope you love it and join us as we steam forward into the next 90 years, but there’s no obligation.
We celebrated over dinner and presented Ted Scull with our Samuel Ward Stanton Award for Lifetime Achievement. We were delighted to have a tour of the Connecticut River Museum and the Art Collection at the Historic Griswold Inn that aptly included drawings by Samuel Ward Stanton.
November 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM
We celebrated over dinner and presented Ted Scull with our Samuel Ward Stanton Award for Lifetime Achievement. We were delighted to have a tour of the Connecticut River Museum and the Art Collection at the Historic Griswold Inn that aptly included drawings by Samuel Ward Stanton.
Our SSHSA Board and Staff would like to send a big thank you to all who were able to attend our weekend's events in Essex, Connecticut to celebrate our 90th anniversary and hold our 89th Annual Meeting.
November 17, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Our SSHSA Board and Staff would like to send a big thank you to all who were able to attend our weekend's events in Essex, Connecticut to celebrate our 90th anniversary and hold our 89th Annual Meeting.
Replica of Robert Fulton's Clermont, the first commercially successful steamboat, in 1908. George Grantham Bain Collection/Library of Congress.
November 14, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Replica of Robert Fulton's Clermont, the first commercially successful steamboat, in 1908. George Grantham Bain Collection/Library of Congress.