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In 1935, a group of historians and collectors passionate about steamships formed the SSHSA as a means of bringing together amateur and professional historians interested in the history and development of steam navigation, past and present. Their knowledge, as well as photographs, research and writings, formed the nucleus of the society’s collections. Learn more about our founders here.

Today our collections comprise hundreds of thousands of images, artifacts, ephemera, memorabilia, and artwork archived in more than 100 collections as well as a maritime reference library. At the Ship History Center in Warwick, Rhode Island, visitors and members alike can peruse ship models, view collections, or conduct research.

Our diverse membership include maritime collectors and artists, navy and merchant mariners, historians, students, genealogists, ship engineers and architects, and maritime history enthusiasts. Our quarterly magazine PowerShips reflects this broad range of topics, with articles on the history of ships and shipping, as well as current news in the industry. See our Values Statement.

We share our archival resources through K – 12 STEAM education lessons. All lessons are 100% free and conform to education standards.

Steamships have radically altered the course of history through immigration, trade, and leisure. This technological advancement began in the early nineteenth century and has had far reaching cultural consequences that continue to this day. STEAMing Into The Future uses primary sources to teach STEAM and Social Studies subjects for all grade levels and was made possible by grants from the National Park Service’s National Maritime Heritage Program and the Heritage Harbor Foundation.