USS Williamsburg AGC-369 (Seventh Presidential Yacht)

The Williamsburg was originally the yacht "Aras"(Sara backward). She was constructed by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, for Mr. Hugh J. Chisholm, and was launched on December 8, 1930. The yacht ARAS had her trial trip on January 10, 1931 and had 614 net tonnage; length 243 feet, 9 inches; breadth 36 feet, 1 inch; depth moulded amidship 21 feet, 10 inches. She was acquired by the U.S. Government on April 24, 1941 and renamed the USS Williamsburg PG-56. When President Truman assumed office the USS Potomac had been condemned by the Navy Department as being unfit for duty in open waters and recommended using the U.S.S Williamsburg as the Presidential yacht. President Truman accepted the recommendation and on November 10, 1945 took her first cruise as the Presidential Yacht. President Truman made several short cruises down the Potomac. On August 16, 1946 the USS Williamsburg departed Washington, D.C. with President Truman on board, for a trip to Quonset Point, Rhode Island. On August 20, 1946 she got underway for Bermuda in company with the USS WEISS returning to Washington September 2, 1946. President Truman entertained several foreign leaders aboard the yacht; May 1, 1947, President Migual Aleman of Mexico; December 5, 1950, Prime Minister Clement R. Attlee and January 5, 1952, Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The Navy manned the Williamsburg with 8 officers, 130 men and 26 stewards.

Presidential Lounge showing couch, two chairs and a coffee table.

Presidential Lounge

First Lady's Stateroom showing a couch, chairs and a mirrored wall.

First Lady's Stateroom

Press room showing a book case and a desk

President's Stateroom

On March 26, 1953, President Eisenhower and Prime Minister Rene Mayer, Republic of France, and their respective advisors had a conference and luncheon on board. They departed in the late afternoon after a short trip down the Potomac River. In mid-April President Eisenhower announced that he no longer required the USS Williamsburg and ordered the Presidential yacht decommissioned on July 1, 1953. In the interim two and one-half months, the President desired that wounded hospitalized veterans, of the Korean War, be taken on afternoon trips down the Potomac River. That program was pursued.

Inactive from 1953 to 1962, she then served the National Science Foundation until damaged in a drydock accident in 1968. She was subsequently sold to become a hotel/museum in New Jersey, but she was instead laid up. In 1993 she was sent to Genoa, Italy for conversion to a cruise ship. Due to lack of interest and lack of funds, work on the Williamsburg has ceased and it is now abandoned, still in Genoa, awaiting sale

Once spotless, the USS Williamsburg became a derelict in Italy.

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