online exhibits

The Posner
Maritime
Art Museum

SEE THE SPECIAL Exhibits on display now in the SSHSA Maritime Virtual Art Museum
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publications

PowerShips

The authoritative magazine of the history of engine-powered vessels and the legacy of man's journey on the world's seas and waterways.

• Lives of the Liners: Holland America’s Ryndam of 1951
• The Hudson River Day Line

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Featured in the SSHSA Bookstore

Visit the SSHSA Bookstore to see the Extraordinary Historical Books Now Available... MORE >
 

SSHSA Latest News:

March 15, 2013

Coming to ShiPosium? Bring your Family too!

February 15, 2013

President's Column

Coming to ShiPosium?
Bring your family too!
Long Beach, CA / May 2-5, 2013

Register today online and reserve your spot for this year's events! Special hotel rates at the Queen Mary are available but only for a limited time.

President's Column

February 15, 2013

By CDR John Hamma

At this time I am happy to report that we have just completed a very successful and productive Board of Directors’ Meeting during which we laid out our plans for the upcoming year and for 2014. We are undertaking a major initiative to improve our societal value by expanding on the “dissemination” element of our mission statement: to record, preserve and disseminate the history of engine-powered vessels.
 

The initiative recognizes that dissemination of information is increasingly being performed through the Internet and various electronic venues. We also recognize that the youth of America is both the future of our society and is more attuned to electronic media than I (personally) and perhaps many of you are. We will reach them via initiatives in all venues – electronic, hands-on, personal interaction. This is exciting to me for sure, but long range.

A closer exciting event is our ShiPosium II, scheduled for Long Beach, California, aboard the RMS Queen Mary, from May 2 through 5. Following our very successful, interesting and entertaining weekend aboard NSSavannah and ShiPosium in Baltimore last May, we will again present case studies of historic ships that are currently endangered, safe, or “iffy.” The presenters share their efforts to preserve their favorite, most times passionately favorite, ship from oblivion. They share their successes, failures, frustrations, and hopes for the future with other presenters and attendees, and we all benefit from a greater insight in how we go about preserving ship history.

We enjoy social gatherings. This year there is a President’s Reception aboard the Queen Mary, a ShiPosium Reception aboard the USS Iowa (BB-61), the banquet with the awards presentation, including the Ship of the Year Award, and optional activities that include a ride aboard historic Los Angeles Harbor tugboat Angels Gate, a presentation by maritime artist Ken Marschall, and a visit to the home of Peter Knego, a member and one of the great collectors of artifacts from 20th century passenger ships that have been scrapped in Alang, India and other locations (I’ve been to his home – it will “knock your socks off” – and he is a most gracious host).

If you are a member of the Steamship Historical Society of America, you should have received your Winter issue of PowerShips. Included in the package was a registration form for the ShiPosium and the rest of the Long Beach events. If you are not a member, 1) I would encourage you to join and enjoy PowerShips four times a year and also access to members-only features on our website, and 2) go to the website, www.sshsa.org, and register for the Long Beach meeting (and while you’re there, join the Society – you’ll not only save money on the ShiPosium registration, but also enjoy all the benefits of membership throughout the year).

If it sounds like I’m “high” on the Society, yes, I am. It’s the best of everything a ship enthusiast could want – incredible collections that encompass all facets of engine-powered vessel history – a fantastic publication, photos, plans, brochures, post cards, models, hard-metal objects – and most of all, the opportunity to interface with others who share interest in the same things.

As always, I invite you, and any members or friends with whom you keep in touch, to contact me at any time with your thoughts, questions or concerns. My email is jfhamma@aol.com. My address is 7959 Eastridge Drive, La Mesa, CA 91941-7855. My phone is 619-466-4854. I particularly love to talk with members and share interests and thoughts on how we can make the Society better.