The stories of the most famous ships in history

1. The MAYFLOWER

This 2020 marks the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the MAYFLOWER from Plymouth UK to Plymouth Massachusetts. The Mayflower was a 17th century English ship, which famously transported the first English Puritans, known today as the Pilgrims, from Plymouth, England to The New World. The voyage became a cultural icon in the history of the United States, with its story of death and survival in the harsh New England winter environment 

2. The Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark — Ancient cargo ship andferry. Legendary vessel that carried Noah's family and animal pairs during a torrential rain storm. Information about the ship is found in the Bible as well as the Koran. 

3. The Santa Maria.

Anyone with a passing knowledge of North American history is familiar with this vessel, one of the trio of ships that sailed with Christopher Columbus on his way to the New World- Santa Maria. While all three made it safely to the Americas, after declaring the entire place the property of Spain, Columbus set out on a search for gold, spices, and other valuables on the Santa Maria. 

4. The USS Alabama

One of the greatest warship of all time- USS Alabama. With space for some 2,500 crewmembers, the 45,000-ton “Mighty A” was more like a small city. Today, you can stand up on deck underneath the ship’s massive gun turrets or poke around below deck in the living and operations areas. And if this classic battleship looks familiar, you may recognize her from her starring roles in two Hollywood blockbusters. 

5. The Bluenose

Bluenose — Canadian schooner, fishing and racing. Featured on the Canadian dime and once on a Canadian 50 cent postage stamp and appears on some Nova Scotia licence plates. During its racing career Bluenose was never beaten and held the International Fisherman's Trophy for 18 consecutive years.
LAUNCHED: 1921, March 18 → FATE: Struck a coral reef and abandoned off Haiti on January 28, 1946. 

6. The Bismarck

One of the greatest war ship of all time- Bismarck. Perhaps no ship struck as much fear into the heart of the British Navy in the spring of 1941 than the massive German dreadnought Bismarck which, at 823 feet and with a top speed of 30 knots, was the largest and fastest warship then afloat. Breaking out of her Baltic haven in late May, 1941 intend on decimating the ragged and besieged British merchant fleet keeping the British Isles afloat, the ship became the subject of the largest naval hunt in Royal Navy history and one that was to cost the British dearly.

7. The Cutty Sark 

Launched in 1869, Cutty Sark formed part of the Jock Willis Shipping Line transporting tea from China to the UK. At the time of her launch she was one of the fastest tea clippers in the world. In 1957 Cutty Sark took up permanent residence in Greenwich where she was opened as a museum ship as part of Royal Museums Greenwich until today.

8. The  Queen Mary

This Queen Mary ship is the BIGGEST, most sophisticated ocean liner ever to set sail, with the most sophistic marine technology in the world. It was built tough enough to whether the roughest seas with the hull and superstructure designed and built to withstand rough nature of Atlantic Ocean – The world’s most famous ocean, notoriously unpredictable, huge, charming and so important as connecting the old with the new world.

9. The VASA

This VASA- Swedish Warship Sank on its Maiden Voyage and was Recovered Intact 333 Years Later. After sinking in 1628, the Swedish warship Vasa was lost for more than three centuries. In 1628, the Swedish warship Vasa sank to the seafloor soon after it departed on its maiden voyage. 333 years later, the ship was discovered and recovered almost entirely intact and is now displayed at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm as the world’s preserved 17th-century ship.