Penn's Landing, Philadelphia PA
Open Daily 10am-5pm (215)413-8655
Philadelphia's chapter of the Seamen's Church Institute was founded in 1919, uniting two existing organizations of the same purpose under one name. One of their first efforts was to build a modern hotel near the waterfront. This exhibit explores the early history of the hotel. View the exhibit »
This is part of a project funded by the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation.
The papers of William Tipton offer an insight into the life and work of a sailor onboard a Union ship during the Civil War. View the exhibit »
In an effort to collect, preserve and honor memories of World War II veterans, a partnership was formed between the National Parks Service, Maritime Academy Charter School, the Delaware Valley Chapter of the United States Submarine Veterans of World War II (USSVWWII), the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USSVI) and Independence Seaport Museum to create Students, Stories, and the 'Silent Service' – an oral history project focusing on the personal experiences of submariners. These stories are not just being placed in an archive, but are enhancing the visitor experience on board the USS Becuna, the museum's WWII and Cold War BALAO-class submarine. View the oral history project »
One family's experience with the infamous ship is illustrated by highlights from the Thayer Family Collection, including one of the only extant copies of the first class passenger list. View the exhibit »
A collection of images from launching ceremonies at local shipbuilding companies, including candid photos and portraits of the women who sponsored the ships built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation in Camden, N.J., and Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Wilmington, Del. Dating from 1905 to 1960, the photos show the scale of the launching parties in relation to the enormity of the ships, the effervescent crash of champagne bottles, and fabulous fashions of the day. View the exhibit »