America At Its Best: SS Jeremiah O’Brien

Despite weighing in at an astounding 10,000-tonnes, the gargantuan SS Jeremiah O'Brien was built by San Francisco’s ship workers in under eight weeks in 1943. Upon entering service, she played a pivotal part in WWII, embarking on seven voyages around the world to England, Northern Ireland, South America, India and Australia. Along with these crossing, the O'Brien made eleven trips across the English Channel to Normandy as part of the D-Day invasion, dodging U-boats as she went. After lengthy restoration, this  empress of the seas is the only remaining fully operational Liberty Ship of the 2710 launched during the war. Fully seaworthy as certified by the U.S. Coast Guard, the O'Brien is now a memorial monument, moored at Pier 45, Fisherman's Wharf and open to the public on most days, making it a must visit on the Cockpit USA 'See America' tour. Visitors are able to explore the entire ship and even see the 2500 horsepower, triple expansion steam engine in full operation on the third weekend of every month. Yet another excuse to go to San Francisco!