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Thursday, August 14, 2025

Queen Mary from Halifax to Long Beach California


#QueenMaryHalifaxLongBeach
The Queen Mary was launched in September 26th 1934, her maiden voyage was two years later from Southampton England to New York USA

The Beginnings
This was the start as a career of a luxury transatlantic liner, but then was
eventually converted into a troopship in 1940 and carrying over 800,000 Allied Soldiers throughout the war, including a record breaking trip of 16,600 passengers

Retired
The ship was put out of use by the Cunard Shipping Line in 1967 because of declining passenger travel due to airplanes (times has changed, as the Global Cruise Industry reported 35 million customers in 2024  Long Beach saw the business opportunity so outbid the scrappers to make it a tourist attraction 

        Past notable passengers of this historic ship; Bob, Hope, Fred Astaire, Elizabeth Taylor, Greta Garbo, Winston Churchill, General Dwight Eisenhower and Jackie Kennedy

Long Beach
Was originally called Wilmore City before being renamed its namesake in 1888 and is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, but still maintains its own unique character 

Hollywood Destination
The port here is one of the busiest in the world so a huge economic driver, plus a film location with past productions like Titanic, Lethal Weapon, Clueless, Ferris Buellers Day Off and Airplane

Auto Racing
They also they run the IndyCar Circuit as the Grand Prix of Long Beach which draws in  huge crowds from within the local area and Internationally

College Town
Finally the California State University has a large (40,000+) student body which certain adds to the culture of this growing city (465,000 citizens,7th largest in the State)


My Host
Long Beach Yacht Club (that was formed in 1929) was certainly very
accommodating for all my needs
 Thank You!



New Life
After its 39 day journey from Southampton England around Cape Horn to the western side of
North America the Queen Mary went under major renovations

Period Correct
The City of Long Beach took ownership and was determined to preserve the historic Art Deco
Designs but also to modernize the staterooms
The ship began hosting tours and a portion of its Museum of the Sea open to the public in 1971, then
the hotel section started receiving guests  the following year

 Present Times
 Plans include developing a large entertainment district with an
 amphitheater, restaurants, lounges and other hosting venues

 Soviet Submarine
 It served in the Pacific Fleet (1971-1994) before being decommissioned and displayed as a museum exhibit first in Australia, then here in Long Beach

  Connection One Halifax Canada
We served as a key location for tracking Soviet Submarines in the North Atlantic
The Canadian Navy played a significate role in the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) using underwater microphones
The city was also a major base for the National anti-submarine warfare operations



 Connection Two
Samuel Cunard was born in my City of Halifax
He eventually moved to London and in time started the passenger carrying transatlantic service after being successful in a mail route over the same ocean



Connection Three
The Queen Mary 2 (as with tradition paying homage to its roots) visits us in Halifax
 during our busy Cruise Ship Season


Spruce Goose
At one time the Howard Hughes H-4 Hercules was housed next to the
Queen Mary in Long Beach,
 until it was moved to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville
 Oregon in 1992

It was designed during the Second World War (almost entirely made of wood, hence the nickname) with the purpose to carry troops plus supplies across the Atlantic Ocean
 
One Flight
Howard Hughes risked his reputation on the project and did get to see it airborne (but it flew only once) in 1947 for about 1.6km (1 mile)
But at least he was the pilot that day to have some sense of vindication

Connection Four
Speaking of disbelievers of aviation (like Howard Hughes endured) near Halifax is Baddeck Cape Breton (350kms or 217 miles away) 

JD McCurdy
In 1909 he flew the Silver Dart for almost 1km (0.6 miles) at a speed of 65kms (40mph)
 The builders of this project were part of the Aerial Experiment Association which included Alexander Graham Bell ( yes the phone inventor, as his summer home was in my Province of Nova Scotia) so many firsts happened here in my area


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