S.S. John W. Brown
S.S. John W. Brown
5
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One of three remaining Liberty Ships, the S.S. John Brown is open for tours by advance reservation.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
30 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
4
Average
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Terrible
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steven K
Annapolis, MD4 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
Steam School aboard the John W Brown was excellent. This 3 day class gave me an appreciation for what the merchant seamen who operated this Liberty Ship during WW-2 had to face. As a retired engineer I enjoyed learning first-hand about how old fashioned steam engines work, but the class would be good for non-techies as well.
Written March 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe S
Baltimore, MD9 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
I got to do the coolest thing with my daughter! You may recognize the SS John W Brown ship which is docked on Clinton St in Canton. It's a WW2 era troop ship.....an authentic steam ship....one of only 2 in this country. You can go on it for tours but did you also know that you can take the ship out to sea for a cruise? Yes! We did and it was the most amazing experience! This is a living history cruise not a pleasure cruise. If you don't have any interest in learning cool stuff then don't waste your money and time. There are super enthusiastic crew everywhere on this ship just itching to talk to you about navigation, communications, mechanical operations, weapons, supply, accommodations, etc. You could go to the Bridge, Radio Room, Chart Room, Engine Room, the gun turrets,....anywhere you want on the ship and the extremely knowledgable crew will be there to tell you crazy cool information and stories! Every single thing is run just like it was in 1944 and it's fascinating! Oh..and I have to say that this was probably one of the most immersive experiences of my life. For example - you are going to be attacked on this cruise. Yep...about a mile from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge we were visited by an authentic Japanese Fighter Plane who proceeded to make bombing runs on the ship while the crew fired at the plane repeatedly with the large guns. I am talking about a real plane and real guns. Yes...it's a reenactment...but to see a Japanese Zero flying low over the water and straight toward the ship with it's engine wailing and the sound of large guns firing....it's just a really immersive experience. Oh and the Engine Room! I can not even imagine that they let ordinary people down there. It is such an inhospitable environment if you know what I mean. And it was AMAZING! It is several stories large. You have to climb on slippery and steep ladders to get around. Temperatures reach well above 100 degrees and it is not unusual for the top floor to be almost 140 degrees. As soon as you step in you start sweating and you don't stop. Everything is HOT. You don't dare touch anything. Everything feels like it is under so much pressure and about to blow up. There are signs everywhere stating "evacuate the engine room when you hear the gong". It is so loud with a symphony of mechanical noise that you have to yell at the top of your lungs so the person standing right next to you can hear you. The room if full of incredibly large cams, rods, pistons, valves, shafts, etc. Steam shoots from places unexpectedly. If you don't like grease and oil....don't go down there...because it's everywhere. I constantly felt like Caroline and I were in the way but the crew loves to have you there and they will keep you safe and tell you all you want to know about everything in that incredible place. They even let me video record operations during the docking of the ship when we arrived in Cambridge MD. It was just amazing. Like I said.....the most immersive experience. That's not all. Up on deck they had programs throughout the day. Amazing entertainment like the Americas Sweethearts who performed 1940's songs. These ladies tour nationally and were just phenomenal. They also had a barbershop quartet. They had a gentleman (did not get his name) reenact President Roosevelt's address to the country after the attack on Pearl Harbor. They had a wreath ceremony for fallen soldiers and it goes on and on. They even provided lunch in the ships mess hall. I think I paid $150 or so per ticket for this cruise and I have to admit that I would have gladly handed over $500 per ticket. Yes, it's worth it!!!!! If you are a photographer then beware. The ship is loaded with artistic photo opportunities. I think I took over 500 photos and several videos.
Written August 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bettega
USA8 contributions
Sept 2011
This review focuses on a unique enterprise known as Project Liberty Ship whose efforts have kept the a real WW2 merchant vessel still running after nearly 70 years: the SS John Brown. The ship still can steam under her own power of a triple expansion reciprocating steam engine to any port of call willing to host her. The highlight "exhibit" so to speak is for a significant fee, they will let you on board a day long "cruise" while the ships motors around with period WW2 re-enactors on board and often times WW2 airplanes doing mock bombing runs.
I visited the ship in the morning with my then 3 year old son in tow and thus I was bound by having to return home for lunch or naptime, unable to take the cruise.
This museum ship is a real treat. Many things are still on board and realistically represented. What is striking is the variety of onboard systems, the standard to which they are restored, and the volunteer crew on board that not only is highly knowledgeable of the history behind the ship, but how it actually works, because they still actually *run* the ship. More than a few volunteers on board served on the tail end of WW2 and can tell you from firsthand experience what it was like firing a 5 inch gun or a 20mm AA gun. Much of the ship from the entire superstructure to the tween deck to even the steering gear is accessible and readily visible. Many systems, ventilation openings or shaft work and you see it in a visceral way, hearing things move, smelling things and feeling heat radiating from places or vibrations emanating from within.
The functioning engine room is also open to the public though small children are not allowed. However, being that both myself and my son are up to a high level for this kind of thing, we were let down on the platform just to take a quick look around; it was hot!
Much of the ship is relatively empty, but it was supposed to be empty in order to fill it with thousands of tons of fuel, vehicles, or ammunition. The museum has done a good job of taking up this void with memorials, models or information educating the public what it was really like to be part of the "battle of the Atlantic" dodging U-boats and the horrendous North Atlantic weather. Also fascinating are many displays filling the gaps to the ship's story. Back in the day, the SS John Brown was used for years as a high school, and the motors remained functional because the boilers were used to heat, power and light the place for years while it "educated" many kids. In fact, much of the volunteer crew were alumni of the school here as well.
Overall this is an experience I would repeat in a heartbeat if given the chance. Admission is very modest, the volunteer crew is top notch, and the ship offers an outstanding, highly restored and authentic appearance. No praise is too great, I can't wait until the comes around to my neck of the woods; by then the babies will be old enough for a "cruise". I would highly recommend it to anyone!
I visited the ship in the morning with my then 3 year old son in tow and thus I was bound by having to return home for lunch or naptime, unable to take the cruise.
This museum ship is a real treat. Many things are still on board and realistically represented. What is striking is the variety of onboard systems, the standard to which they are restored, and the volunteer crew on board that not only is highly knowledgeable of the history behind the ship, but how it actually works, because they still actually *run* the ship. More than a few volunteers on board served on the tail end of WW2 and can tell you from firsthand experience what it was like firing a 5 inch gun or a 20mm AA gun. Much of the ship from the entire superstructure to the tween deck to even the steering gear is accessible and readily visible. Many systems, ventilation openings or shaft work and you see it in a visceral way, hearing things move, smelling things and feeling heat radiating from places or vibrations emanating from within.
The functioning engine room is also open to the public though small children are not allowed. However, being that both myself and my son are up to a high level for this kind of thing, we were let down on the platform just to take a quick look around; it was hot!
Much of the ship is relatively empty, but it was supposed to be empty in order to fill it with thousands of tons of fuel, vehicles, or ammunition. The museum has done a good job of taking up this void with memorials, models or information educating the public what it was really like to be part of the "battle of the Atlantic" dodging U-boats and the horrendous North Atlantic weather. Also fascinating are many displays filling the gaps to the ship's story. Back in the day, the SS John Brown was used for years as a high school, and the motors remained functional because the boilers were used to heat, power and light the place for years while it "educated" many kids. In fact, much of the volunteer crew were alumni of the school here as well.
Overall this is an experience I would repeat in a heartbeat if given the chance. Admission is very modest, the volunteer crew is top notch, and the ship offers an outstanding, highly restored and authentic appearance. No praise is too great, I can't wait until the comes around to my neck of the woods; by then the babies will be old enough for a "cruise". I would highly recommend it to anyone!
Written October 5, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanne G
Arvada, Colorado6 contributions
My sister and I recently took our dad to spend a day on the SS John W. Brown. It was the Brown's June 24, 2006 living history cruise. This ship sails three times a year. My dad was on the maiden voyage of this ship some 64 years ago and this was the first time he was back on it. He knew exactly where to go and wasted no time finding "his bunk" and "his seat" in the mess hall. We had a fantastic time!
The cruise is a great way to spend a day back in 1942. For one price, there's an all-you-can-eat continental breakfast buffet as well as a lunch buffet. There are actors who do reenactments of FDR and Eleanor, General McGarther, waves, whacks, Abbott & Costello, Big Band music, flyovers, attacks by enemy planes, barbershop quartets and singing ladies. There are many interesting exhibits of World War II memorabilia.
I would definitely recommend this cruise for any history buff out there!
Joanne
Arvada, Colorado
The cruise is a great way to spend a day back in 1942. For one price, there's an all-you-can-eat continental breakfast buffet as well as a lunch buffet. There are actors who do reenactments of FDR and Eleanor, General McGarther, waves, whacks, Abbott & Costello, Big Band music, flyovers, attacks by enemy planes, barbershop quartets and singing ladies. There are many interesting exhibits of World War II memorabilia.
I would definitely recommend this cruise for any history buff out there!
Joanne
Arvada, Colorado
Written July 11, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William W
Washington61 contributions
Oct 2017 • Solo
I was fortunate enough to go on board while she was alongside at Fells Point for her 75th. Anniversary. It was a superb visit. The tour with one of the volunteers was interesting and as an ex Merchant Navy person myself we quickly bonded and reminisced. The 2,700 Liberty ships were a vital part of WW11 and contributed significantly to the liberation of Europe. Baltimore is lucky to have one of the final three surviving. The others are in San Francisco and Piraeus. She cruises in the Chesapeake twice a year, I really hope I can be there in either June or September 2018.
Written October 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SunsetLaker
Bridgewater, New Jersey32 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
A truly unique experience as you step on board it is 1944. I met President Roosevelt, Rosie the Riveter and experienced America's Sweethearts performing Andrew Sisters songs flawlessly. We were buzzed by WWII vintage aircraft. The SS John W. Brown is the remaining operating Liberty Ship on the east coast. Manned by a crew of dedicated volunteers.
Written June 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JackRussellTerrier
Washington, DC1,190 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
On Saturday, my husband and I took a cruise from the port of Baltimore to just past Annapolis and back to do some research for a book I am writing. We both thought that we would take a tour, get a sense of the atmosphere and have a few questions answered and that would be it. But the day turned out so much better. There were about 700 passengers and over 100 volunteers on the ship, but everything ran so smoothly--from the time we boarded until the time we left.
There were entertainers all day singing songs from WWII and they were good! We were surprised at the quality. There was even a bit of an air show with three types of fighters (two American and one Japanese) buzzing the ship and volunteers firing at the Japanese fighter (blanks, of course). Quite a show.
Two of the crew (all were volunteers) were especially helpful to me in my research, but all of them seemed knowledgeable and all were certainly helpful.
The ship and this cruise serve as a reminder of our history. It really should be a part of high school history curricula.
There were entertainers all day singing songs from WWII and they were good! We were surprised at the quality. There was even a bit of an air show with three types of fighters (two American and one Japanese) buzzing the ship and volunteers firing at the Japanese fighter (blanks, of course). Quite a show.
Two of the crew (all were volunteers) were especially helpful to me in my research, but all of them seemed knowledgeable and all were certainly helpful.
The ship and this cruise serve as a reminder of our history. It really should be a part of high school history curricula.
Written September 13, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sabrina R
Naples, FL366 contributions
Sept 2014 • Friends
The idea of the Living History Cruise aboard the John W Brown is to give the passengers a taste of what it was like for the sailors on board the Liberty ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 1944. These ships carried troops and much needed supplies. They were dangerous voyages with threats from the air and from the sea. One of the John Brown's volunteer crew members survived not one, but two Liberty Ship's being sunk while he was on board.
Anyone who enjoys photographing an air show will LOVE the experience aboard the John Brown. Each plane flies by several times from all directions. The last pass is usually nice and low too. If you are standing on one of the gun decks you will be eye level or higher than the plane. The planes are also much closer than any air show I've ever attended. The bomber passes right overhead a couple of times. The sight and sound of this beyond my ability to describe. Anyone who likes vintage war birds should experience this. The planes may vary from show to show due to weather conditions and this cruise started with a Stearman training biplane, moved up to an Aichi dive bomber and then culminated with Briefing Time, a Mitchell B-25, from the Mid Atlantic Aviation Museum in Reading, PA.
I've posted more info in the picture captions.
Anyone who enjoys photographing an air show will LOVE the experience aboard the John Brown. Each plane flies by several times from all directions. The last pass is usually nice and low too. If you are standing on one of the gun decks you will be eye level or higher than the plane. The planes are also much closer than any air show I've ever attended. The bomber passes right overhead a couple of times. The sight and sound of this beyond my ability to describe. Anyone who likes vintage war birds should experience this. The planes may vary from show to show due to weather conditions and this cruise started with a Stearman training biplane, moved up to an Aichi dive bomber and then culminated with Briefing Time, a Mitchell B-25, from the Mid Atlantic Aviation Museum in Reading, PA.
I've posted more info in the picture captions.
Written September 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George M
Montgomery, AL127 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
Received a phone call from my Grandfather asking if I wanted to go on a 6 hour cruise on a WWII Liberty Ship. I said I would love to and thus we went on the May 24th Veterans Appreciation Cruise. For this particular day, the vast majority of passengers were WWII and Korean War vets. The entire crew (all volunteers) were exceedingly pleasant and welcoming. As the ship left it's moorings we went down the Chesapeake, seeing Fort McHenry and other sites. They had a breakfast down below, which was a nice selection of bagels, pastries, donuts, etc, with orange juice and coffee. We were free to explore much of the ship, even the engine room, which I found terrifying to think of having to work down there in the noise and heat while being surrounded by pounding machinery. There was displays and artifacts throughout the ship, and some rooms were preserved as they would have looked during the John Brown's active service. Topside, they had General Bradley greeting everyone, followed by the Andrew Sisters (the lovely Manhattan Dolls), and Abbott & Costello. There was a Memorial Service, which was particularly moving considering the mass of veterans. Much of the afternoon the "Andrew Sisters" were putting on a show, singing and dancing. Then Abbott & Costello came and did a show, which had everyone laughing. Lunch was a pleasant buffet of sandwich materials, salads, and snacks. Towards the end of the cruise ice cream was being handed out. (All the food was included in the ticket price) Midway through the cruise, a Navy Biplance Trainer flew around the ship, then Japanese aircraft "strafed" the ship several times while crews in multiple gun nests returned fire. An American fighter showed up and "shot down" one of the aircraft and chased the other off. Then a B-25 bomber flew by several times, a few times with it's bomb bay doors open and directly over our heads. The cruise was simply amazing. I wouldn't take young children but highly recommend this for everyone else. I'm glad I could spend this day with my Grandfather, a veteran, and will remember it for the rest of my life.
Written June 4, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James M
Lake Norman, NC72 contributions
Sept 2019
This ship on the other side of the harbor in Baltimore is one of two World War II liberty ships that can be visited (out of almost 2700 built during the war)! The story behind the Liberty Ships is amazing-America pulled together to build the vehicles to get supplies and troops to Europe. As Americans age, the interest in the history of WWII is diminishing-a reason for us to stop and visit this example of American genius. Take the time to go under the harbor to the other side and support the fine volunteers who are keeping this history alive (at least for the time being). Thank them by showing up and admiring the American spirit in its unique form. Without our support, this ship may disappear for future generations . . .
Written October 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How can I get to this ship from Inner Harbor? Is there a bus that goes there? Ty
Written May 10, 2022
Randytall
Greenbelt, Maryland
My step son wants to visit the ship. He is only available for a mid-afternoon visit. I am a kings pointer. Is this possible
Written April 8, 2016
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