 |
| #QueenMary_Halifax_LongBeach_California The Queen Mary was launched in September 26th 1934, her maiden voyage was two years later from Southampton England to New York USA This was the beginning 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 |
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 (originally called Wilmore City before being renamed its namesake in 1888) is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area but still maintains its own unique character 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 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 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) |
.jpg) |
| Long Beach Yacht Club (that was formed in 1929) was certainly very accommodating for all my needs Thank You! |
 |
| 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 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 To present times; plans include developing a large entertainment district with an amphitheater, restaurants, lounges and other hosting venues |
 |
| This Soviet submarine served in the Pacific Fleet (1971-1994) before being decommissioned and displayed as a museum exhibit first in Australia, then here in Long Beach Here is the first random connection to my City of Halifax in Eastern 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 |
 |
| At one time the Howard Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose) was housed next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach until it was moved to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville Oregon in 1992 It was designed during World War 11 ( almost entirely made of wood.....hence the nickname) with the purpose to carry troops plus supplies across the Atlantic Ocean Howard Hughes risked his reputation on the project but 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) In 1909 pilot JD McCurdy 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 |
No comments:
Post a Comment