WHEREAS: On May 22, 1819, the Steamship Savannah sailed from the Port of Savannah and became the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean; and

WHEREAS: After a voyage of 29 days and 11 hours, the S. S. Savannah, helmed by Captain Moses Rogers, arrived in Liverpool, England to great fanfare on June 20, 1819; and

WHEREAS: From Liverpool, the S. S. Savannah journeyed to Stockholm, Cronstadt, and St. Petersburg, where the Czar of Russia presented a cast iron chair and table as gifts to Captain Rogers which were brought back to Savannah; and

WHEREAS: The Steamship Savannah returned to Savannah on November 30, 1819 having made maritime history; and

WHEREAS: The S. S. Savannah enterprise was financed by the Savannah Steamship Company, of which William Scarborough was the principal promotor; and prior to its historic voyage, United States President James Monroe had inspected the vessel on a trial excursion in Savannah; and

WHEREAS: In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated May 22 as National Maritime Day in honor of the material contribution to the advancement of ocean transportation made by the Steamship Savannah.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah do hereby call upon all citizens of Savannah to recognize May 22, 2019 as National Maritime Day in Savannah and celebrate the 200th anniversary of the historic sailing of the Steamship Savannah from the Port of Savannah.

Approval