WWII Liberty Ship stops at Nauticus

NORFOLK, Va. - The SS John W. Brown, a fully operational World War II memorial and maritime museum ship, will be open for public tours at Nauticus in downtown Norfolk July 10th through the 13th.

The John W. Brown, based in Baltimore and maintained by Project Liberty Ship, is one of the last surviving Liberty ships in America.

"Liberty ship" was the name given to the EC2 type ships designed for emergency construction by the United States Maritime Commission in World War II.   They carried two-thirds of all cargo that left the U.S. during the war and are sometimes referred to as the cargo-carrying key to the Allied victory.

While one such Liberty Ship was built in four days, according to the Historic Naval Ships Association the John W. Brown was built in 56 days.

Docked at Nauticus, the ship will be open to visitors on Friday, July 10, from noon to 4:00pm; and Saturday, July 11, through Monday, July 13, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Admission to the ship is free, although a $5 donation is requested for adults.