Through recording, preserving, and educating,
the mission of the Steamship Historical Society of America is to share the impact of engine-powered vessels,
their crews, and their passengers with future generations.
New $75,000 Posner Match Challenge
Follow along with our progress and learn more by visiting the Full Ahead page. Click HERE to donate online and help us complete the challenge!
Speaker Series Announced for 2026
Live at the Ship History Center near the airport in Warwick, RI. The event is open to members as well as the general public, and is also available via Zoom. Doors open at 10 a.m., lecture begins at 10:30 a.m. ET, unless otherwise specified. Learn more on our Events page.
Join us for the first speaker on March 7 – SSHSA Board Vice President Captain Eric Takakjian will present about the Yarmouth Castle Burning, the Deadliest Passenger Ship Disaster off the Coast of the United States since 1934.
In 1935, a group of historians and collectors passionate about steamships formed the SSHSA
and began our long history 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.
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.
The society’s mission is driven by our commitment to innovative educational initiatives designed to captivate and inspire learners of all ages. We believe that education is a transformative force that empowers individuals, fosters curiosity, and ignites a passion for lifelong learning. Tailored for educators of K-12 students, cornerstone of this commitment is the groundbreaking program STEAMing Into The Future, which is an immersive educational experience that seamlessly blends Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) disciplines, providing free, standards-aligned, online educational modules.
Learn about SSHSA and Heritage Vessels.
Learn about our free, standards-aligned STEAM education lesson plans at shiphistory.org/education.
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 was made possible by grants from the National Park Service’s National Maritime Heritage Program and the Heritage Harbor Foundation.
Want to learn more about our organization and our goals? See these resources below:
Read our Values Statement.
Learn more about our founders.
See our current board members.
