The Dreadnought, one of the most famous ships of the 19th century, was built in the Currier & Townsend Shipyard at the foot of Ashland Street, in 1853. The ship was employed in the North Atlantic trade between New York and Liverpool.

The ship’s captain – Samuel Samuels – having moved to Newburyport for 2 years to directly supervise her construction, was intimately familiar with every inch of the ship. Samuels commanded her for 10 years, during which time Dreadnought became famous for her speed and strength. In his autobiography, Samuels tells that:

“By the sailors she was nicknamed the “Wild boat of the Atlantic” while others called her the “Flying Dutchman” . . . she made the voyage from Sandy Hook [NY] to Queenstown [Liverpool] in the unequalled sailing time of nine days and thirteen hours. She was readily recognized at sea by a conspicuous red cross painted on her fore-top-sail.”

In her day, Dreadnought inspired songs and stories that were told all over the world, including a 2012 Newburyport Chamber Music Festival commissioned work for string trio and narrator, which premiered here at the museum. Presented in Samuels own voice, he recalls his record-setting voyage as follows:

“One time in ’59, we left New York. Just thirteen days later we spied landfall, entering that great city of Liverpool before sun-down. It was a new chapter in the history books, and Dreadnought had lived up to her name. She was fearless, fast, first and favoured, and I danced on the quarter-deck that night, while my men sang your praises till dawn.”

“Captain Samuels Speaks to the Sea”,
November 2012