A ship is safe in harbor
but that's not what ships are for.
...John A. Shedd
One of the greatest ships ever built, RMS Queen Mary left Southampton on her maiden voyage on 27 May 1936 for New York. She the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic in 1936. The ship hosted several rich and famous such as Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, David Niven, Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn and Bob Hope. In its heyday, a first class ticket cost as much as a house.
The Queen Mary played several roles, as a luxury ocean liner, a troopship during WWII, then was refitted for passenger service before officially being retired in 1967. The ship now serves as a tourist attraction, a museum and a hotel. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Best on Black.
The first photo shows a mosaic tile picture of the Queen Mary. It is located by the elevator that takes you up to the promenade deck. The second photo shows half of the flags that were flown on the Queen Mary. Third photo is a partial look at the very long Promenade Deck. All the windows on the right hand side had to be custom made as each was not the same size. On the second row, it shows the iconic red telephone booth and a Victorian Scale. Next is a photo of the largest of the three Queen Mary Bells presented to the Queen Mary by Lloyd’s of London in 1936. It weighs 350 pounds, made of copper and tin and is 24 inches in diameter. Outside the bridge and control room were two of these pieces of equipment with levers...5-6 more inside. And last, a model of the Queen Mary which was a quadruple screw turbine steamer built by Cunard White Star Line.
We had a narrated tour that was fascinating. Then strolled around on our own. Too many photos to post. Dinner was wonderful aboard the Queen Mary at the Chelsea Chowder House.
It's an amazing ship - my grandparents sailed on it before it was decommissioned and my parents and uncle went on board to see them off, and eat the farewell seven course dinner. I don't remember, almost certainly wasn't born, but heard the stories.
