Steam Yacht Medea San Diego Maritime Musuem

 
Early in World War II, Medea joined the Royal Navy as a barrage balloon vessel at the mouth of the River Thames. Later she went back to Scotland and was used by the Norwegian Navy, based there as an accommodation ship for Norwegian commando officers. 
 
By 1946 Medea was back in British civilian service, cruising off Cornwall and the Isle of Wight. During the 1950's and 1960's, she had four different owners, including Job Longson Wild, her owner prior to World War II. In those post-war years she served at her owners’ pleasures. From 1966 to 1969 she was in charter service, until her Swedish owners took over in 1969. By that time, Medea was a tired old boat, but she was still pretty enough to capture the attention of oilman Paul Whittier, who had steamed aboard similar vessels in his youth.  In 1971, Whittier purchased, restored and donated Medea to the Maritime Museum of San Diego. This amazing gift arrived in San Diego on July 14, 1973. 

Today Medea still cruises the Bay on special excursion cruises for invited guests. Although she is not permitted to carry paying passengers, she is open dockside to welcome all visitors to the Maritime Museum.