American Victory Mariners Museum Ship

Detail:  The historic, 455-foot SS American Victory, built in
1945, served during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, carrying
'guns, gear, grub and gas' and other supplies to GIs.  This icon of
America's and Tampa Bay's maritime history and culture is being restored
into a mariner's museum, is available for tours and makes periodic day
cruises on Tampa Bay.  

One of the 534 famous Victory class of merchant cargo vessel built during
World War II, the American Victory is one of only three remaining ships of
her class, the only restored Victory ship on the East Coast and the only
memorial vessel in the Southeast US able to steam under her own power.
Since April 2000, more than 50,000 visitors have toured the ship to view the
transformation of vessel into a mariner's museum, to attend social
functions, maritime education programs for school students and special
events like Independence Day fireworks viewings and during unique 'ReLive
History' cruises on Tampa Bay.

The ship's Restoration Tours allow visitors to view the restoration work
aboard a functioning, 1940s era merchant cargo vessel.  Visitors can
experience virtually the entire ship, including cavernous cargo holds, radio
and gyrocompass rooms, galley, reefers, flying bridge, wheelhouse, signaling
equipment, messes, crew cabins and lifeboats.  The developing museum
contains a hands-on helming station, historic photographs of the American
Victory and other merchant ships, Merchant Marine uniforms and medals and
navigation artifacts, cargo equipment, ship models and weaponry.  Since
September 1999, volunteers have donated upwards of 100,000 hours to restore
and maintain the vessel.