2012.001

Purchase

Purchase

Museum Collections.

1900 - 1900

Date(s) Created: 1900 Date(s): 1900

Notes: The Deutschland was a trans-Atlantic passenger ocean liner, Kaiser class, that left Germany for America on its maiden voyage on July 4, 1900; it officially arrived July 12th 1900, in 5 days 16 hours and 46 minutes capturing the Blue Riband (from North German Lloyd) for the fastest crossing (and did the same on the maiden return trip from America; it went on to capture several more that year.) The month was significant for the Hoboken piers as the North German Lloyd Line piers suffered a disastrous fire at the end of June. Hamburg American piers were south of the NGL piers and operations were normal for the line. The Line was very proud of its new liner, it was the only four stack (funnel) ship ever operated by Hamburg-American. Since it had just arrived in Hoboken from its maiden voyage, showing it off to visitors before the return maiden trip was an important event even while its main competitor, North German Lloyd, was recovering from its fire. (The Deutschland remained as an ocean liner on the North Atlantic only until 1910, when she was got new engines - the initial ones were powerful and caused uncomfortable vibrations - and modified for cruising; renamed the S.S. Victoria (or Viktoria) Luise, one of the first cruise ships and operated as such until 1921; refitted and re-named S.S. Hansa for emigrant service; scrapped 1925.) Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2012-09-17