Medea (yacht) facts for kids
Medea at the Maritime Museum of San Diego
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Medea |
| Namesake | Medea |
| Owner | Maritime Museum of San Diego |
| Builder | Alexander Stephen and Sons |
| Completed | 1904 |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Steam yacht |
| Tonnage | 143 (gross) |
| Length |
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| Beam | 17 feet (5.2 m) |
| Draft | 8 feet (2.4 m) |
| Installed power | 2-cylinder compound reciprocating steam engine, 254 hp |
| Speed | 8.5–10 knots (15.7–18.5 km/h; 9.8–11.5 mph) |
The Medea is a special steam yacht built way back in 1904. Today, you can find her at the Maritime Museum of San Diego in the United States. She was named after Medea, a famous character from Greek myths.
This beautiful yacht was built in Scotland by a company called Alexander Stephen and Sons. She was originally made for William Macalister Hall, who lived in Torrisdale Castle.
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Medea's Exciting History
Serving in World War I
During World War I, the Medea had an important job. The French Navy bought her and added a 75mm cannon. She helped protect other ships by joining convoys. While serving France, her name was changed to Corneille.
Life Between the Wars
After World War I ended, the Medea was owned by different members of the British Parliament. She enjoyed a quieter life during these years.
Helping Out in World War II
When World War II began, the Medea was called to duty again. This time, the Royal Navy used her to hold down barrage balloons. These balloons floated in the air near the mouth of the River Thames to help protect against enemy aircraft.
New Owners and Restoration
After World War II, the Medea had several owners from Norway, Britain, and Sweden. Then, in 1971, a man named Paul Whittier bought her. He loved the yacht and worked hard to make her look just like she did when she was first built. In 1973, he generously gave her to the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Featured on TV
The Medea even appeared on TV! She was part of an episode of the Discovery Channel show Dirty Jobs. In that episode, the host, Mike Rowe, helped clean the inside of the yacht's boilers. It was a tough job, but it showed how much work goes into keeping old ships like Medea in good shape.
Medea's Current Status
Today, the Medea is a museum ship. The Maritime Museum of San Diego is looking into ways to get her sailing again. However, this is a big challenge. The museum needs to figure out how her engines work without the original engineer. Also, the Coast Guard doesn't have many experts trained to check steam engines for ships anymore.
