Ship History Center opens in Warwick

Steamship Historical Society of America
THE STEAMSHIP Historical Society of America received a $20,000 education grant from the Heritage Harbor Foundation earlier this month to further its outreach efforts, which it will use to help fund the development of an interactive website that will share some of the museum’s collection with its international online audience. Pictured are some of the items that can be found at the museum. / COURTESY STEAMSHIP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

WARWICK – The Ship History Center at 2500 Post Road is now open to the public for the first time on select days through the end of the year.

Operated by the Steamship Historical Society of America, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary, the center features maritime items, photographs and paintings. The center also serves as the society’s headquarters.

“Since bringing our collections together for the first time in decades right here in Rhode Island, we have been working toward a goal of opening this building up so that we can show off some of the truly unique historical artifacts that we have gathered over the years,” SSHSA Executive Director Matthew Schulte said in a statement.

“This isn’t just a place for researchers and amateur historians, it’s a place for anyone – and everyone should be interested in this fascinating segment of our American heritage,” he said.

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The Ship History Center will be open on the following dates and times in November and December:

  • Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. on Dec. 3 and 10
  • Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 21, and Dec. 5 and 12

Entrance is free for SSHSA members, with a suggested donation of $8 for the general public.

The organization also plans to offer expanded hours at the Ship History Center in 2016.

Visitors can view thousands of images, artifacts, periodicals, artwork, official records and memorabilia about the history of engine-powered vessels, their passengers and their crews, according to a news release about the opening.

Last year, the society moved into a building previously used by New England Institute of Technology. The items at the center were stored in warehouses along the East Coast until this spring, when they were consolidated at the new building.

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