Steam Yacht Medea

Motor Vehicle

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Steam Yacht Medea

Name/Title

Steam Yacht Medea

Entry/Object ID

2001.438.001

Description

Steam yacht

Collection

Museum Vessel Collection

Make and Manufacture

Manufacturer

Alexander Stephen & Sons, Ltd.

Manufacture Place

Neighborhood

Linthouse, Scotland

City

Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Location

Scotland

Country

United Kingdom

Continent

Europe

River

River Clyde, Scotland

Manufacture Date

1904

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term

Launch, Steam

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Motorboat

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Boat

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Watercraft

Nomenclature Class

Water Transportation Equipment

Nomenclature Category

Category 07: Distribution & Transportation Objects

Dimensions

Dimension Type

Overall

Interpretative Labels

Label

The steam yacht Medea was constructed in 1904 on the River Clyde near the port city of Glasgow. Her first owners were Scottish gentry who used the vessel to sail on hunting trips to secluded lochs along Scotland’s western coast. During the First World War the French navy purchased Medea and armed her with a 75mm gun on her foredeck. The French renamed her Corneille and she was employed in the protection of Allied shipping and anti-submarine warfare in the English Channel. Between the wars, new owners enjoyed Medea’s comforts as they engaged in travel and recreation along the English coast. The Second World War saw yet another period of military service for the graceful steam yacht. She was used to train members of the Norwegian Navy. The post-war years saw new owners – British and Swedish before Medea was purchased by the Whittier family and transported to British Columbia. Following extensive restoration, she was donated to the Maritime Museum of San Diego in 1973.