Docked permanently in Long Beach, California, the cruise liner Queen Mary saw many years of active service until it reached its current permanent berth.

Queen Mary with Russian submarine

Now a hotel, tourist attraction and historical museum, the Queen is a venerable ship that first plied the waters in the time just before World War II. The passenger capacity was almost 2,000, with the crew representing a little more than half that number.

Recreation of a deluxe suite's sitting room

Part of the Cunard line, known for its luxurious treatment of the rich and famous, the Queen Mary was pressed into service to transport troops during WWII. All of the rich appointments were removed so the over 16,000 troops and crew could be transported to war zones. During the War, Winston Churchill planned the D-Day invasion from his suite on the Queen Mary.

Churchill planned the D-Day invasion here

After the war, the Queen Mary was refitted as a luxury liner and resumed its trips between Europe and New York City. The rich and famous enjoyed the pleasures of the transatlantic passages. Celebrities like Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Hope, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Tony Curtis, and Liberace were all passengers at one time.

Eventually with the advent of jet air travel, ocean liners lost favor and the Queen was “withdrawn from service” in 1967. In a closed bid, Long Beach won the Queen because it proposed a use for the venerable liner that was respectful of its history.

To see the ship’s historical exhibit, unless you’ve been staying at the Queen Mary Hotel, there is a hefty charge of $24.95 per adult, $12.95 for children. Is it worth that money? That depends on your perspective and interests. We were glad we could see it for free, since we’d stayed at the hotel.

In addition to a detailed timeline showing the major events in the Queen Mary’s history, there is an exhibit that shows originals from the ship’s existence. You can see an extensively beaded dress worn during the Queen’s maiden voyage, a recreation of a first class suite, crew quarters, and the massive engines, which are no longer in service.

Tomorrow: Staying on the Queen Mary, the hotel.