A War-Born Workhorse
Launched on June 19, 1943, from the New England Shipbuilding Corporation in South Portland, Maine, the SS Jeremiah O’Brien is one of the last surviving Liberty ships — and the only one that remains completely unaltered and fully operational. Named after Revolutionary War naval hero Captain Jeremiah O’Brien, she was one of 2,710 Liberty ships built to sustain Allied logistics during World War II.
Operated by Grace Line for the War Shipping Administration, the O’Brien carried troops and supplies across dangerous wartime seas, completing seven wartime voyages to destinations as far-flung as Northern Ireland, India, Australia, and South America. Most notably, she made eleven crossings to the Normandy beachhead during the D-Day landings — a critical component of the largest seaborne invasion in history.
A War-Born Workhorse
Launched on June 19, 1943, from the New England Shipbuilding Corporation in South Portland, Maine, the SS Jeremiah O’Brien is one of the last surviving Liberty ships — and the only one that remains completely unaltered and fully operational. Named after Revolutionary War naval hero Captain Jeremiah O’Brien, she was one of 2,710 Liberty ships built to sustain Allied logistics during World War II.
Operated by Grace Line for the War Shipping Administration, the O’Brien carried troops and supplies across dangerous wartime seas, completing seven wartime voyages to destinations as far-flung as Northern Ireland, India, Australia, and South America. Most notably, she made eleven crossings to the Normandy beachhead during the D-Day landings — a critical component of the largest seaborne invasion in history.
Certified, Seaworthy, and Historic
What sets the Jeremiah O’Brien apart today is more than her wartime legacy. She is the only Liberty ship in the world that retains her original WWII configuration, preserved without modern alterations or conversions. Her machinery, interior layout, and construction remain faithful to 1943 standards.
This remarkable authenticity does not come at the expense of functionality. The SS Jeremiah O’Brien is U.S. Coast Guard inspected and approved and maintains a current classification with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) — a rare achievement for a historic vessel of her kind. She remains seaworthy and licensed to sail under her own power, a status no other Liberty ship can claim.
Certified, Seaworthy, and Historic
What sets the Jeremiah O’Brien apart today is more than her wartime legacy. She is the only Liberty ship in the world that retains her original WWII configuration, preserved without modern alterations or conversions. Her machinery, interior layout, and construction remain faithful to 1943 standards.
This remarkable authenticity does not come at the expense of functionality. The SS Jeremiah O’Brien is U.S. Coast Guard inspected and approved and maintains a current classification with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) — a rare achievement for a historic vessel of her kind. She remains seaworthy and licensed to sail under her own power, a status no other Liberty ship can claim.
From Mothballs to Glory
After the war, the O’Brien was laid up in the Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay. It wasn’t until 1979 that a group of passionate volunteers, led by Rear Admiral Thomas J. Patterson, brought her back to life. She became the only Liberty ship to leave the reserve fleet under her own power, beginning a second chapter as a living memorial and operational museum.
Following extensive restoration, the O’Brien resumed active duty — not in combat, but in education and remembrance. Her successful recommissioning is a testament to the dedication of those who understand that history should not just be remembered, but experienced.
From Mothballs to Glory
After the war, the O’Brien was laid up in the Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay. It wasn’t until 1979 that a group of passionate volunteers, led by Rear Admiral Thomas J. Patterson, brought her back to life. She became the only Liberty ship to leave the reserve fleet under her own power, beginning a second chapter as a living memorial and operational museum.
Following extensive restoration, the O’Brien resumed active duty — not in combat, but in education and remembrance. Her successful recommissioning is a testament to the dedication of those who understand that history should not just be remembered, but experienced.
D-Day, 50 Years Later
In 1994, the O’Brien journeyed through the Panama Canal and across the Atlantic Ocean to take part in the 50th anniversary of D-Day. She was the only Liberty ship — and the only vessel from the original invasion fleet — to return to the beaches of Normandy. That voyage, widely celebrated in Europe and the United States, cemented her status as a symbol of courage, endurance, and historical fidelity.
D-Day, 50 Years Later
In 1994, the O’Brien journeyed through the Panama Canal and across the Atlantic Ocean to take part in the 50th anniversary of D-Day. She was the only Liberty ship — and the only vessel from the original invasion fleet — to return to the beaches of Normandy. That voyage, widely celebrated in Europe and the United States, cemented her status as a symbol of courage, endurance, and historical fidelity.
A Museum That Still Moves
Today, the SS Jeremiah O’Brien is moored at Pier 35 in San Francisco, fully operational and open to the public. Visitors can tour her historic decks, explore her engine room (powered by a functioning triple-expansion steam engine similar to the one used on the Titanic), and experience the ship as she was in 1943.
She is more than a museum — she’s a living ship, maintained to exacting standards, kept afloat by a dedicated team, and still capable of answering the call to steam.
A Museum That Still Moves
Today, the SS Jeremiah O’Brien is moored at Pier 35 in San Francisco, fully operational and open to the public. Visitors can tour her historic decks, explore her engine room (powered by a functioning triple-expansion steam engine similar to the one used on the Titanic), and experience the ship as she was in 1943.
She is more than a museum — she’s a living ship, maintained to exacting standards, kept afloat by a dedicated team, and still capable of answering the call to steam.
Visit the Museum at:
SS Jeremiah O’Brien
Pier 35, The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94133
Letters and Inquiries to:
National Liberty Ship Memorial
45 Pier, Suite 4A
San Francisco, CA 94133