USS Potomac

USS Potomac "Music on the Bay" summer concert series Seats 110 The USS Potomac’s Origins The USS Potomac was built in 1934 as the Coast Guard Cutter Electra. The 165-foot vessel, displacing 416 gross tons with cruising speeds of 10 to 13 knots, was commissioned as a US Navy vessel in 1936, renamed the USS Potomac, and served as Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Presidential Yacht until his death in 1945. Today USS Potomac Mission Statement To preserve and protect the Presidential Yacht USS Potomac for use as a classroom and museum dedicated to imparting to present and future generations the continuing impact of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt era. Today’s USS Potomac Today, the USS Potomac, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Floating White House, is a National Historic Landmark and a vibrant part of the East Bay Waterfront. Over a 12-year period, $5 million was spent to restore the 165-foot-long vessel as a memorial to the president who authored the New Deal and led the United States during the Great Depression and the World War II years. The USS Potomac, the centerpiece of the museum exhibit, opened to the public in 1995 and is open for dockside tours on specified dates from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Public 2 HR and 3 HR cruises on the San Francisco Bay take place from late April through early November on specified dates. The Visitor Center business hours are 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Monday–Friday, where there is a wealth of information about the USS Potomac, including a fascinating video on her history, hard times, and resurrection. Storyboards that chronicle the yacht's history line the walls, and there is a library of books and videos available for viewing at the Visitor's Center. The USS Potomac Association is involved in educational programs about the ship for area schools, history and educational cruises, special events cruises, and selected private charters. The USS Potomac Association is an organization run by volunteers and a very small staff. Volunteers include the policy-making Board of Governors, history docents, office and administrative workers, the ship's maintenance crew, and program and membership volunteers. Although not a requirement, many of these individuals served in the armed forces, Merchant Marine, maritime unions, or have worked at ports throughout the country.