SS John W. Brown

The SS John W. Brown is a historic Liberty ship that is now moored at Pier 13 in the Port of Baltimore, Maryland, where it serves as a museum ship and cruise vessel. Named after the Canadian-American labor leader John W. Brown, the ship was built in Baltimore in 1942 and served as a merchant vessel in the U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II. It took part in numerous transports, including delivering war materiel to the Soviet Union via the Persian Gulf and carrying troops and prisoners of war across the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. After the war, from 1946 to 1982, the ship served as a floating vocational school in New York City, where thousands of students received maritime training.

After the school closed, the ship was first moved to the Reserve Fleet before being relocated to Baltimore and restored in 1988. In 1991, it put to sea under its own power for the first time in almost 45 years, completing sea trials in the Chesapeake Bay, where it had originally been built. Since then, it has been an important historic site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can experience the ship on so-called Living History Cruises, which take you through the Port of Baltimore, the Patapsco River, and the Chesapeake Bay.

During these tours, you'll learn more about the role of the U.S. Merchant Marine, the history of the Liberty ships, and the importance of American women in World War II. The program includes tours of the ship's interior, demonstrations of the activities of the naval crew of the time, and simulated air raids by historic aircraft. Performers also appear in the roles of figures from the war years. As one of the few Liberty ships in the world still able to sail, the SS John W. Brown offers a unique glimpse into the maritime history of the United States.