WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE QUEEN MARY AND HER MARITIME PAST: A BRIEF HISTORY

By Alexander Amaro | Photos courtesy of the Historical Society of Long Beach

Afloat in the waters of Long Beach is a testament to a grander time in maritime history. Once a world-class ocean liner, the Queen Mary rests as a floating hotel and event center. Boasting three restaurants, with fare ranging from a casual snack to fine dining, a bar with a 1930’s atmosphere, and over 80,000 square feet of event space, the venerable ship offers much to do while on board. Whether you are a fan of the pre-war era, WWII, or want a break from life, the Queen Mary offers a unique experience to all who visit. So climb on board, take a step back in time, and experience Queen Mary as she once was in her golden days.

Engineering Marvel

In the late 1920s, the Cunard Line’s fleet was beginning to become obsolete. In order to maintain profits and to compete with rivals, Cunard commissioned two ocean liners to join their fleet, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. Construction began in 1930 on what was to be Britain’s first 1,000 foot ship and was completed by 1936. 

The Queen Mary became an engineering marvel of the time, with amenities on board such as five dining areas, two cocktail bars, swimming pools, ball room, and a hospital. From its maiden voyage on May 27, 1936, until its retirement in 1967, the Queen Mary ferried approximately 2.2 million passengers, and 810,000 troops during World War II. 

Revered for its size and speed, the Queen Mary became a popular method of travel for celebrities and dignitaries alike. She held the Blue Riband for nearly 16 years for the fastest average speed across the Atlantic from 1936 to 1952 (her only loss to French ocean liner, Normandie, in 1937).

The Grey Ghost

September 1939, the war in Europe had begun. Cunard suspended the Queen Mary’s services and authorized the ship to be retrofitted to a troop transport to aid the war effort. After 10 months, the Queen Mary had been stripped of her amenities, and painted grey. Due to her size and speed, the Queen Mary earned the nickname, “The Grey Ghost.” She set multiple records during the war with the ability to transport 16,000 troops across the Atlantic.  

Able to outmaneuver German U-boats and their torpedoes, a bounty was placed on the Grey Ghost for anyone to bring her down, yet there were no reports of any shots being fired for the entirety of the war. Sadly, in October 1942, the Grey Ghost claimed the lives of approximately 340 sailors when she collided with the HMS Curacoa. By the end of the war, the Queen Mary had transported about 810,000 troops, and was returned to her original glory by July 21, 1947.

Her New Home

For 20 years after the war, the Queen Mary had seen regular business thrive… until airliners made transatlantic cruises obsolete. Cunard announced in 1966 that they were to sell the ship. In 1967, the Queen Mary was sold to the city of Long Beach for $3.45 million, about $32 million in 2024’s economy. The Queen Mary began her final journey on Halloween 1967, to sail to her final resting place. Her journey came to an end on December 9, 1967, when she arrived in Long Beach, where she still rests today.  

Here, in Long Beach, floats a ship that has done more than just sail the seas. She was the bane of U-boats in WWII, a testament to pre-war glamour, and a survivor of a simpler time of leisure and travel.