S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien

Of the more than 5,000 ships that formed the original D-Day armada, the O'Brien was the only ship to return 50 years later (although smaller vessels from many countries also returned). She and her crew were reviewed by the Queen of England from the royal yacht Britannia, visited by the President of the United States, and honored on both sides of the English Channel on that historic occasion. Returning across the Atlantic, her first U.S. port of call was her birthplace, South Portland, Maine. Continuing what was ultimately a six-month, 18,000 mile journey, she called at many other U.S. cities before making her triumphant return through the Golden Gate. The O'Brien made the entire voyage with no significant repairs and arrived at each port ahead of schedule -- a tribute to the skill and dedication of the volunteer crew members who maintained and sailed her, and a testimony to her sturdy design and construction.

The O'Brien is approved by the American Bureau of Shipping, certified by the U.S. Coast Guard, and fully seaworthy -- the only active Liberty Ship in original configuration.* Operated as the National Liberty Ship Memorial, she is moored at Pier 45, Fisherman's Wharf and open to the public most days. Virtually the entire ship from engine room to flying bridge can be seen by visitors. Boilers are "lit off," and the 2500-horsepower, triple-expansion reciprocating steam main engine is operated on Steaming Weekends (normally the third Saturday and Sunday of each month) so visitors can see the engine plant in action. Several San Francisco Bay cruises are scheduled each year, with occasional longer voyages to west-coast ports such as Sacramento.

--- www.ssjeremiahobrien.com