(Inside the Queen Mary’s new Art Gallery onboard. Photo Courtesy of The Queen Mary)
(Info from press release)
Named the top Specialty Museum in Long Beach by TripAdvisor, the Queen Mary is a living testament to elegance, history, and artistry. Moored in Long Beach, this historic ocean liner offers guests an immersive experience where art, architecture, and the ship’s storied past come to life. With its newly restored art deco masterpiece, captivating exhibits, and curated art gallery, the Queen Mary remains a cornerstone of Southern California’s cultural landscape. On Tuesday, May 27, from 10AM to 5PM, the ship will host a Queen Mary Community Day, offering free admission for visitors to experience The Queen Mary’s artistic and historical treasures up close.
“The Queen Mary has always stood as a marvel of design and engineering, but she’s also one of the most unique cultural and art destinations on the West Coast,” said Steve Caloca, Managing Director of the Queen Mary. “The Community Day coming up in May is an opportunity for our neighbors to step aboard and truly explore the ship as a living museum; to see the art, the preservation efforts, and the exhibits that continue to tell her magnificent story.”
From bow to stern, the Queen Mary herself is an architectural time capsule. Her original decks, staterooms, and grand salons are adorned with rare woods, etched glass, and decorative metalwork that define the ship’s famed Art Deco style. One of the most treasured pieces is the recently restored "Unicorns in Battle," a breathtaking 16-foot mural located in the Queen’s Salon. Originally created by Alfred J. Oakley and Gilbert Bayes, the carved gesso panel is the second-largest artwork aboard the ship and once served as the dramatic focal point above the 1st Class Main Lounge fireplace. Thanks to restoration supported by QMI Restore, the mural’s gilded silver and gold leaf detailing has been returned to its original brilliance. The ship also recently launched a Restoration & Preservation webpage, where the public can learn more about ongoing efforts to safeguard and showcase the Queen Mary’s historic assets.
Daily, guests are invited to chart their own course through the ship’s many exhibits via 20+ “Experience Points, now available in 5 different languages. These immersive experiences reveal the inner workings of the ship, from the wheel house to the propeller box, with stops at the Commodore’s office, the radio room, the engine room, and more. Using a mobile phone, guests can access experience points located throughout the ship to listen and learn more about key areas. A complimentary Experience Point postcard, featuring a map of all locations, is available at Passenger Information which is open daily from 10a.m. to 6p.m. Larger onboard exhibits include “Their Finest Hours: Winston Churchill and The Queen Mary,” and “The Cunard Story,” which explores the legacy of the legendary company behind more than 150 ocean liners spanning 175 years.
New to the Queen Mary’s art offerings are three can’t-miss additions: newly installed museum placards, the Queen Mary Archives Museum, and the onboard Queen Mary Art Gallery. The museum placards, located throughout the ship, provide historical context and fascinating insights into select artworks and iconic spaces, enhancing the self-guided experience for visitors. The Archives Museum, accessible exclusively to guests who book the VIP tour, houses rarely seen furniture, artwork, and artifacts from the ship’s days of transatlantic luxury travel. Guests exploring the Queen Mary’s newly curated Art Gallery can view a variety of remarkable works that speak directly to the ship’s legacy including: Madonna of the Tall Ships by Kenneth Shoesmith and The Mills Circus by Dame Laura Knight. Madonna of the Tall Ships was one of several original works commissioned by Cunard to decorate the Queen Mary’s first-class public rooms, capturing the romance and grandeur of ocean travel. Knight’s vibrant The Mills Circus celebrates performance and theatricality, echoing the ship’s legacy as a lively social and cultural hub. Both works offer a glimpse into the artistry that once adorned Cunard’s most elegant spaces and now continue to inspire onboard.
To celebrate all of these offerings, visitors are invited to enjoy complimentary admission to the Queen Mary on Tuesday, May 27 during the Queen Mary’s Community Day. From the grand design elements to newly curated exhibits, guests can experience firsthand why the Queen Mary continues to enchant and inspire nearly 90 years after her maiden voyage.
For more information, upcoming events, programming, and more visit
queenmary.com/seasonal-events.htm and
queenmary.com/whatsondeck, or connect with us on social @TheQueenMary.
