Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien Celebrates Wartime History

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The Liberty Ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien, docked at Pier 35 in San Francisco, is a living museum that preserves the history of the Bay Area's crucial role in the massive production efforts required to equip and supply the Allies during World War II. Launched in 1943, the Jeremiah O'Brien is one of the last surviving Liberty ships and the only one that remains completely unaltered and fully operational.

Why it matters

The Jeremiah O'Brien serves as a powerful symbol of the Bay Area's wartime contributions, highlighting the region's pivotal role in keeping the Allies supplied and equipped during some of the most critical battles of WWII. As one of the few remaining Liberty ships, the vessel provides a tangible connection to the past and offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience history firsthand.

The details

The Jeremiah O'Brien was launched on June 19, 1943, from the New England Shipbuilding Corporation in South Portland, Maine. She is one of the 2,710 Liberty ships built during the war, and the only one that remains completely unaltered and fully operational. The ship carried troops and supplies across dangerous wartime seas, completing seven voyages to destinations as far-flung as Northern Ireland, India, Australia, and South America. She also made 11 crossings to the Normandy beachhead during the D-Day landings, playing a critical role in the largest seaborne invasion in history.

• The Jeremiah O'Brien was launched on June 19, 1943.
• In 1994, she journeyed through the Panama Canal and across the Atlantic Ocean to take part in the 50th anniversary of D-Day.
• Every year, she still sails a few times on the Bay—always for May Memorial Cruise and for Fleet Week.

What’s next

The Commonwealth Club of California is hosting a private tour of the Jeremiah O'Brien on April 10, 2026, allowing visitors to explore the historic decks and engine room of the ship.