Last week we looked at historical ships and their locations across the UK. We discussed the importance of these ships in preserving both history and culture. This week we are looking at historical ships across the US.
1. USS Constellation
Known for
The USS Constellation played an important role in The American Civil War. She was part of the US Mediterranean Squad and the African Squadron. She was mainly used as a deterrent
to combat the threat of Confederation forces at sea.
She was also used as an intervening ship along the slave trade route. She would prevent the crossing of slaves from Africa to America and liberate those who had been captured.
Following this, she was used as a training ship during World War I, and in 1940 was named a national symbol by President Roosevelt.
Location today
The USS Constellation can be found in Baltimore, Maryland. She is considered an icon of US culture and history.
Organisations responsible
The USS Constellation is preserved through the hard work of Historic Ships. They are generously sponsored by multiple organisations and donations from the public. A full list of sponsors can be found here:
http://www.historicships.org/sponsor.html
This organisation offers many benefits to the local population and visiting tourists. They offer, in their own words, ‘hands-on encounters with history’. They offer tours and educational programs of their ships, which is not limited to just the USS Constellation, but an entire host of ships including Chesapeake and USS Torsk.
To read more and find out their exact location check out their website:
http://www.historicships.org/index.html
Like them on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/HistoricShips
Our model of the USS Constellation
Our model
We do a model ship of the USS Constellation which is a very accurate replica.
2. RMS Queen Mary
Known for
She is one of the most famous passenger liners ever built. She was constructed in Clydebank, Scotland between 1929 and 1935.
Her maiden voyage began on May 27th 1936, and from then she served as a luxury passenger ship for British royalty and celebrities across both sides of the Atlantic.
Between 1939 and 1946 she was radically transformed to serve as a troopship during World War II. She carried up to 15,000 troops across the Atlantic.
Following the end of the war, she resumed her career as a passenger liner. Unfortunately she struggled to compete with rising technology which led to commercial flight and the space race.
A historic spectacle lost in a modern world, she was eventually abandoned in Long Beach, California. To this day, she has remained there, but her legacy has not been forgotten.
Location today
Long Beach, California
Organisations responsible
Rather uniquely, the RMS Queen Mary is now a hotel and events venue. Having previously been a passenger liner, it seems right that she would serve this purpose.
The RMS Queen Mary continues to offer luxury and entertainment to many people. She also offers people the opportunity to experience the history and culture of the early part of the 1900’s.
A beautiful ship from the outside, along with an equally beautiful interior, she serves as one of the most popular tourist destinations in California.
Read more here: http://www.queenmary.com/
Like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thequeenmary
Our model of the RMS Queen Mary
Our model
We have completed a model of the RMS Queen Mary previously as a custom order. At an astonishing 4 metres in length, it is an amazing ship model. You can find out more about this model.
3. USS Constitution
Known for
The USS Constitution is perhaps one of the oldest symbols of American history still around today. She was built at Edmund Hartt’s Shipyard in Boston in the years of 1794 to 1797.
She was named by George Washington after the American Constitution and is currently the oldest naval ship still afloat.
She is famous for several other things such as the role she played during the War of 1812 with Great Britain.
She is remembered so greatly because of what she represents. She is a symbol of the founding of America. It is the fact that she is still around today that explains why she is so important to Americans.
The relation she has to the American Constitution and the role she played in securing the early survival of this newly founded nation makes her one of the most significant symbols of American culture and history.
Current location
Boston, Massachusetts
Organisations responsible
The USS Constitution is preserved and maintained by the USS Constitution Museum. They work extremely hard and dedicate large portions of their time towards ensuring that this important part of America’s history is kept alive.
Not only do they do this, but they also place an important emphasis on education and inspiring the American youth to engage with American history.
Please support them and find out more here: http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/
Our model of the USS Constitution
Our model
You can see our model ships of the USS Constitution here
4. Mayflower II
Known for
The Mayflower II is a replica ship built in England that crossed the Atlantic in 1957. The original vessel, named Mayflower, made this voyage much earlier in the very early 1600’s.
The original vessel was used to transport Pilgrims from England to what is now known as Plymouth in the New World. The ship sailed from Plymouth in England which is where the modern Plymouth got its name.
This ship is such an important part of American culture and history because it represents the early settlement of what is now known as North America.
The original voyage is estimated to have carried 102 passengers and 30 crew. The story of the Mayflower has captivated Americans across history and continues to do so today.
Current location
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Organisations responsible
The Mayflower II was built as a replica ship for the purposes of maintaining American history. The replica was built and is maintained by the Plimoth Plantation.
This organisation offers a reconstruction of the early life of Pilgrims in the New World. Complete with a 17th Century English Village and the Mayflower II, this unique experience is highly recommended.
The Plimoth Plantation aims to retell the story of the original Mayflower and the people that inhabited early Plymouth.
Find out more here: http://www.plimoth.org/
Support them by liking their Facebook page here
Our model of the Mayflower II
Our model
We offer a model of this historical ship and also various kits if you wish to build the model yourself.
5. HMS Surprise
Known for
The HMS Surprise is a replica ship built in 1970 in Nova Scotia, Canada. Originally called Rose, she was based on the HMS Rose which was a British naval ship used mainly during the American Revolutionary War.
She is a symbol of early British craftsmanship and American independence. For these reasons she is a very important part of preserving both American and British culture and history.
Current location
San Diego, California
Organisations responsible
The HMS Rose Foundation was previously responsible for maintaining and preserving the HMS Surprise.
In 2001, she was sold to 20th Century Fox and is now part of the Maritime Museum in San Diego. She has taken part in multiple movies including Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World and The Pirates of the Carribean.
Her role in these movies has attracted much attention from the local population and tourists. The Maritime Museum in San Diego offers visitors the chance to experience both the craftsmanship of British shipbuilders and early American history.
You can read more about them here: http://www.sdmaritime.org/
Support them by liking their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/sdmaritime
Our model of the HMS Surprise
Our model
We have multiple ship models of the HMS Surprise.
Final note
We hope that you found the information in this blog useful, and we have inspired you to visit these ships and support the organisations that work so hard to preserve them.
This blog will continue to explore historical ships across the globe, next we plan at looking at Australia and the ships that they have to offer, so don’t forget to check back.
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