SSHSA Archivist Astrid Drew Presents “Corliss Steam Engines: Riding the Wave of Innovation in 19th Century Rhode Island” at the Herreshoff Marine Museum
Thursday, September 17, join SSHSA Archivist Astrid Drew at the Herreshoff Marine Museum for a presentation on Corliss Steam Engines in Rhode Island.
George Henry Corliss catapulted Providence, Rhode Island onto the world stage when he patented his steam engine valve gear. That innovation fueled the Industrial Revolution in Rhode Island and made Providence (and Corliss) famous. However, he wasn’t the only inventor and industrialist making a mark in the little city. In this presentation one will learn about Corliss, his invention, and the landscape of engineers and business that thrived in latter half of the 19th century and how they all shaped Rhode Island as well as the world.
You can purchase tickets for this Virtual and In Person presentation at herreshoff.org/series/lecture/.
SSHSA Speaker Series 2026 – Live at the Ship History Center or via Zoom
Join us at the Ship History Center near the airport in Warwick, Rhode Island. These events are open to members, the public, and are also available via Zoom, unless otherwise noted.
Shipwreck on the Potomac: Disaster in the Pursuit of Lincoln’s Killer
September 12, 2026, Doors open at 10 a.m. ET, Presentation begins at 10:30 a.m. ET, Author, historian, curator, and SSHSA member Karen Stone presents about her book Shipwreck on the Potomac: Disaster in the Pursuit of Lincoln’s Killer. Learn about the chaos and danger of the post-assassination period and the shipwreck event in the hunt for the killer.
Steamboats to Ferries: The Story of the Block Island Boat
October 3, 2026, Doors open at 10 a.m. ET, Presentation begins at 10:30 a.m. ET. Author, historian, SSHSA member, and former purser Gregory Abbott has been captivated by ships since his high school summer job aboard the Yankee that went to Block Island. Learn about the evolution of steamships and passenger travel, from the 1800s to the modern era of the ferries to Block Island.
Ida Lewis: The Legendary Lady Light Keeper of Lime Rock
October 24, 2026, Doors open at 10 a.m. ET, Presentation begins at 10:30 a.m. ET, local author, speaker, and SSHSA member Brian Wallin will present “Ida Lewis: The Legendary Lady Light Keeper of Lime Rock,” highlighting her life and 18 rescues on the anniversary of her death.
USS Cyclops
November 7, 2026, Via Zoom ONLY 10:30 a.m. ET, author, researcher, and SSHSA member Marvin Barrash will present about his book USS Cyclops. The collier USS Cyclops was lost in the Bermuda Triangle during WWI. She was headed to Baltimore, Maryland with a massive cargo of war materiel. She never arrived at her destination. Barrash has been featured on the History Channel and National Geographic, among other documentaries.
The Stowaway: A Young Man’s Extraordinary Adventure to Antarctica
November 11, 6:30 p.m. ET, via Zoom ONLY, Best-selling Author, Laurie Gwen Shapiro, will present via Zoom about her book The Stowaway: A Young Man’s Extraordinary Adventure to Antarctica. Follow the journey from scrappy teen stowaway in the jazz age to a seasoned captain aboard a liberty ship in the Merchant Marines.
Other Events SSHSA is Attending – Come See Us There!
- October 10, Yankee Steam Up at the New England Wireless Museum. For more details see https://newsm.org/
- October 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Marine Mart at VFW 1146 Bruce Post, St. Clair Shores, MI
Open House – Open to Members and the General Public
Join us on October 12, 2026 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET.
Tour our collections and learn about the history of steamships and engine-powered vessels. Explore hundreds of models, photos, maritime artworks, and other artifacts.
- Tour
- Selfie Station with Nautical Props
- Deck Games (games people used to play on ocean liners)
- Coloring station
- Scavenger hunt & more
Watch your emails for details and more events to come!
SSHSA Speaker Series 2027 – Live at the Ship History Center or via Zoom
The Music of the Fall River Line
A program centered on the music written for the steamships as well as the music performed aboard them. This talk highlights how the Fall River Line used music to shape its identity and passenger experience.
The Royal Tar, 1836: Reconstructing an Early Steamship Disaster
The side-wheel steamer Royal Tar is often remembered only as “the Circus Ship” that burned off the coast of Maine in 1836. Drawing upon eighteen years of archival, maritime, technical, underwater, and on-site research, Dennis Dorsey examines the vessel and its operation, and the events of its final voyage and those impacted. The presentation will also explain how the research, analysis and investigation were brought together to evaluate surviving accounts of the disaster.
The Adriatic Affair
Hailed as one of the finest ships in the world at the time, French steamship Le Leyonnais was built with both sails and steam during the transition to steam powered vessels. On November 2, 1856, she was struck and damaged by American sailing vessel Adriatic, resulting in a tragic sinking days later that took the lives of 114 passengers. Captain Jonathan Durham of the Adriatic was put on trial by the French authorities as his collision left passengers to fend for themselves in the North Atlantic. Jennifer Sellitti will share the true story of Le Lyonnais, detailing the mystery of her loss and the decades long hunt to locate the wreck of the vessel.