"SS Leviathan"
America's First Superliner

The Leviathan, originally called Vaterland, was a remarkable ship. She was one of the most popular liners of the 1920s and was a ship of many firsts. She was the first American superliner and set the stage for future successes with other famous passenger vessels such as the America and United States. This illustrated history captures her story.

The story of the Leviathan, originally called Vaterland, is a fascinating one. She was a remarkable ship, but is frequently not given the credit she deserves for her contributions to the US Merchant marine and has been given short thrift by many writers who describe her only as a failure. Nothing could be farther from the truth. She was one of the most popular liners of the 1920s and was a ship of many firsts. She was the first American superliner and set the stage for future successes with other famous passenger vessels such as the America and United States. Although of German origin, the 'Levi' was popular and became a household name across America and other parts of the world. Her interiors were stunning and she was an engineering marvel. After an extensive refit by US Lines in 1923 she was also the safest and arguably the best of the 'Balin trio'. She had an adventurous career that made her seem more a living thing than a hunk of steel. In this illustrated history, Brent Holt captures her story and affectionately remembers this great liner.