Brunel's SS Great Britain

SS Great Britain is a museum ship and a former passenger steamer that was technologically sophisticated in her day. From 1845 to 1854, she was the world's biggest passenger ship. She was built for the Great Western Steamship Company's transatlantic service between Bristol and New York City and was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806–1859). While earlier ships used iron or had a screw propeller, Great Britain was the first to combine these qualities in a huge ocean-going vessel. In 1845, she became the first iron steamship to traverse the Atlantic Ocean in 14 days.

The ship is 322 feet long (98 meters) and has a displacement of 3,400 tons. She was propelled by two inclined two-cylinder direct-acting engines with twin high-pressure (diameter unknown) and twin low-pressure 88 in (220 cm) bore cylinders, all with 6-foot (1.8 m) stroke cylinders. She was also given supplementary masts to help with sail power. The four decks accommodated a crew of 120 people as well as 360 guests in staterooms, dining rooms, and promenade saloons.

Location: Great Western Dockyard Gas Ferry Road, Bristol, England BS1 6TY

Website: ssgreatbritain.org