Queen Mary in Long Beach offers history, ghosts

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Queen Mary in Long Beach offers history, ghosts
February 18, 2010
Elk Grove Citizen


A recent visit and stay on the Queen Mary in Long Beach left me feeling like a queen myself. There are many legends about the grand ocean liner being haunted. On the morning I arrived it would be easy to believe, as the ship at the dock was shrouded in fog and appeared blanketed in a gauzy white veil.

The Queen Mary was built at the John Brown shipyard in Clyde, Scotland. She was completed and made her maiden voyage on May 27, 1936. At the time, she was bigger, faster and more powerful than the Titanic.

For three years, the Queen Mary was considered by the rich and famous to be the only way to travel. She carried such people as Winston Churchill, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Mary Pickford, David Niven and many other well-known celebrities.

At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, luxury travel stopped and the ship was changed into a ship for the troops that became known as “The Grey Ghost.” By the end of the war, the ship had carried more than 800,000 troops, traveled more than 600,000 miles and played a major role in virtually every large Allied campaign.

On December 9, 1967, the Queen Mary was sold for $3.45 million to the city of Long Beach, and she was permanently docked and soon became the luxury hotel and museum that she is today.

I first went to the area across from the Queen Mary where many beautiful and varied boats are docked. I could see across to the Queen Mary, and then slowly she disappeared as the fog rolled in.

I boarded the ocean liner and one of the first things I saw was her bell accompanied by a plaque in honor of the ship’s personnel who safely transported over 750,000 servicemen and servicewomen aboard the Queen Mary during World War II.

I walked along the wooden promenade where I viewed large pictures of the many stars and well-known figures who had strolled and played on the Queen Mary. I especially liked the one of Laurel and Hardy clowning in their usual way and the photo of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

I climbed to the top deck where I could see for miles as the fog dissipated. I looked down on the Russian Scorpion, a Russian submarine that is tied up between the Queen and the dock. It can be toured also. Most of the guns and artillery are gone, but there is still a Twin 40-mm anti-aircraft machine gun on the deck.

I took some time to eat in one of the ship’s cafes and then went onto the main deck where several gift shops are located. Nearby I spotted different letters that were written by the crew and the many war brides who were brought to America on the Queen Mary after the war.

My night’s stay on the Queen Mary took my mind to the many legends of ghosts that are said to haunt the huge ship. Over the past 60 years, the ship has been the site of approximately 50 reported deaths. The engine room, located 50 feet below the water, is said to contain paranormal activity. The room’s “Door 13” crushed at least two men to death. The most recent death, during a routine watertight door drill in 1966, crushed an 18-year-old crewmember. The young man has often been spied walking around before disappearing by door #13.

Two more popular spots for the Queen’s other ghosts are its first and second-class swimming pools. Though neither pool is utilized today, people have reported the sounds of splashing and spied wet footprints. The spirit of a little girl named Jackie has allegedly often been seen and heard. The girl drowned in the pool during the ship’s sailing days.

Guests reportedly have heard water running, distinct knocks, doors slamming and high-pitched squeals. Some have seen lights turning on in the middle of the night. I fell fast asleep without a ghostly incident, but the paranormal history made my visit that much more intriguing.

Take a trip to Long Island and visit the Queen Mary. Stay the night and feel like royalty. Sign up for one or more of the tours and you will learn more about the history of the ship and the legends of ghosts aboard the Queen Mary.

Enjoy!

Finding Your Way

Take Interstate 5 south to Interstate 710 south into Long Beach and follow directions to the Queen Mary.

For more information and reservations call 800-437-2934.