Ship History Radio

by Steamship Historical Society of America

Join the Steamship Historical Society of America for tales of ships that reshaped our history as the country transitioned from sail to steam and beyond. Using exclusive oral histories and primary resources straight from our extensive archives, we focus on the vessels, crew and passengers that revolutionized the way that we traveled, traded and immigrated. Steam ahead with us as we navigate the waters of America’s rich maritime  ...   ...  Read more
Education
History
Society & Culture

Podcast episodes

  • Arklow Fishermen and the Rescue of the Lusitania with Jim Rees

    Arklow Fishermen and the Rescue of the Lusitania with Jim Rees

    E15
    21:56

    On May 7, 1915, Cunard Line's RMS Lusitania was struck by a torpedo from the German U-20 and sank in just 18 minutes off the south coast of Ireland. She was returning to Liverpool from New York with 1,959 passengers. Of those on board, only 761 survived. 1,198 people drowned including 128 U.S. citizens. Learn about the ship and why this event was pivotal to the course of World War I in our latest Ship History Radio podcast episode. Join us for a chat with historian Jim Rees as he and SSHSA Education Director Aimee Bachari discuss the role that Arklow fisherman played in the rescue of passengers from the Lusitania sinking on this episode of Ship History Radio. Jim is the chairman of the Arklow Maritime Museum in County Wicklow, Ireland and shares the history and maritime heritage of Arklow, how this community museum came to be, and what visitors can see on display.

  • "The Bravest Woman in America," Ida Lewis Lighthouse Keeper

    "The Bravest Woman in America," Ida Lewis Lighthouse Keeper

    E14
    10:01

    Learn about the role of lighthouses in maritime navigation and communication and how and why women held the federal position of lighthouse keepers in the nineteenth century. You will hear about Rhode Island's Ida Lewis, who is the most famous lighthouse keeper in the United States and how nineteenth century gender norms affected the way in which she was represented in the media with her position in the national spotlight. Check out our Common Core Standards-aligned lesson plan on this topic at https://shiphistory.org/2023/10/19/idalewis/. To learn more about our organization and education program visit shiphistory.org.

  • On Board the Student Ship the SS Groote Beer with Paul Klee

    On Board the Student Ship the SS Groote Beer with Paul Klee

    E13
    28:20

    Join us for a conversation with Paul Klee, who took the student ship the SS Groote Beer to Europe when he was just 17 years old. Hear about the last days of travel from point to point and what it was like being a teenager on a ship surrounded by peers. You can learn more about this topic at shiphistory.org/ships. To learn more about our organization, visit sshsa.org.

  • The Vincent M. Love Collection with Archivist Astrid Drew

    The Vincent M. Love Collection with Archivist Astrid Drew

    E12
    15:48

    On this episode, you’ll hear a presentation that Archivist Astrid Drew gave to the World Ship Society’s Port of New York Branch back in May, where she discussed the Vincent M. Love Collection currently on loan to SSHSA. Follow along with Astrid’s presentation or dive deeper into this remarkable collection by visiting www.shiphistory.org/love-collection.

  • Viewing history through scrapbooks

    Viewing history through scrapbooks

    E11
    17:51

    Join Archivist Astrid Drew and Assistant Archivists Heather Kisilywicz and Tessa Mediano as they discuss the challenges of preserving and interpreting three unique scrapbooks in the SSHSA collections.