Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Exodus 1947: "The ship That Launched a Nation"

<i>Exodus 1947</i>: "The ship That Launched a Nation" Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 20, 2023

1. Exodus 1947: "The ship That Launched a Nation" Marker

Inscription.

Exodus 1947: "The ship That Launched a Nation". . , Near this spot, the Baltimore steamer President Warfield began her epic voyage into history. Built in 1928 as the flagship of the Old Bay Line, she ran nightly cruises between Baltimore and Norfolk. In 1943 she was given to Britain under the wartime lend-lease program, but joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 as a harbor control vessel off Omaha Beach after the D-day landings. , Purchased as war surplus in 1946, she was outfitted in Baltimore as part of a secret fleet to transport Holocaust survivors through the British blockade against Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel. On July 18, 1947, manned mainly by Americans and carrying over 4,500 refugees, she was attacked by British warships and boarded in international waters. Three men were killed, including the American mate William Bernstein: dozens were wounded. During the struggle the ship’s new name, Exodus 1947, was proclaimed to the world. , The British returned the captured refugees by force to detention camps in occupied Germany. The saga of Exodus 1947 inspired the world to condemn British policy, led to the UN resolution to partition Palestine, and symbolized the birth of Israel. The ship itself, battered and abandoned, burned and sank in the Haifa harbor in 1952., Between 1946 and 1948 volunteers from the United States and Canada acquired, equipped and manned 10 ships which carried 30,000 refugees through the British blockade., Erected by the Jewish Museum of Maryland and the Baltimore Zionist District on July 18, 1997. This marker commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the voyage of Exodus 1947., It is also a memorial to Mose I. Speert who led Baltimore’s efforts to equip refugee transports. We salute the crewmen for their valor and the refugees for their courage.,

The four vessels outlined in Baltimore: , . Exodus 1947 (originally President Warfield) , . Chaim Arlosoroff (Ulua) , . Hatikva (Tradewinds) , . Jewish State (Nortbland), Outfitted elsewhere: , . Josiah Wedgewood (Beaubarnois) , . Haganab (Norsyd) , . Ben Hecht (Abril) , . Geula (Paducab) , . Kibbutz Galuyor (Pan York) , . Atzmaut (Pan Crescent)

Near this spot, the Baltimore steamer President Warfield began her epic voyage into history. Built in 1928 as the flagship of the Old Bay Line, she ran nightly cruises between Baltimore and Norfolk. In 1943 she was given to Britain under the wartime lend-lease program, but joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 as a harbor control vessel off Omaha Beach after the D-day landings.

Purchased as war surplus in 1946, she was outfitted in Baltimore as part of a secret fleet to transport Holocaust survivors through the British blockade against Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel. On July 18, 1947, manned mainly by Americans and carrying over 4,500 refugees, she was attacked by British warships and boarded in international waters. Three men were killed, including the American mate William Bernstein: dozens were wounded. During the struggle the ship’s new name, Exodus 1947, was proclaimed to the world.

The British returned the captured refugees by force to detention camps in occupied Germany. The saga of Exodus 1947 inspired the world to condemn British policy, led to the UN resolution to partition Palestine, and symbolized the birth of Israel. The ship itself, battered and abandoned, burned and sank in the Haifa harbor in 1952.

Between 1946 and 1948 volunteers from the United States and

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

Canada acquired, equipped and manned 10 ships which carried 30,000 refugees through the British blockade.

Erected by the Jewish Museum of Maryland and the Baltimore Zionist District on July 18, 1997. This marker commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the voyage of Exodus 1947.

It is also a memorial to Mose I. Speert who led Baltimore’s efforts to equip refugee transports. We salute the crewmen for their valor and the refugees for their courage.

The four vessels outlined in Baltimore:
• Exodus 1947 (originally President Warfield)
• Chaim Arlosoroff (Ulua)
• Hatikva (Tradewinds)
• Jewish State (Nortbland)

Outfitted elsewhere:
• Josiah Wedgewood (Beaubarnois)
• Haganab (Norsyd)
• Ben Hecht (Abril)
• Geula (Paducab)
• Kibbutz Galuyor (Pan York)
• Atzmaut (Pan Crescent)

Erected 1997 by Jewish Museum of Maryland and the Baltimore Zionist District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is July 18, 1947.

Location. 39° 17.157′ N, 76° 36.596′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in the Inner Harbor. Marker is at the intersection

Exodus 1947: "The ship That Launched a Nation" Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, June 14, 2012

2. Exodus 1947: "The ship That Launched a Nation" Marker

This is a photo of the marker in its previous location.

of East Pratt Street and Commerce Street, on the right when traveling east on East Pratt Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 E Pratt St, Baltimore MD 21202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Top of the World Observation Level World Trade Center (here, next to this marker); An Active Port for 300 Years (here, next to this marker); Living Classrooms (a few steps from this marker); Together we remember the people of Maryland who perished on 9.11.2001 (within shouting distance of this marker); "Yuai" (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Living Classrooms (within shouting distance of this marker); Baltimore Riot Trail (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); USS Constellation (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.

More about this marker. The marker has been moved from its original location to the southeast grounds of the World Trade Center Baltimore.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 20, 2023

3. Exodus 1947: "The ship That Launched a Nation" Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 914 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 21, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on September 26, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on October 21, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.