Franklin D. Roosevelt: U.S.S. Potomac Ship Model....

Description

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An original, fully-assembled model of the U.S.S. Potomac, FDR's Presidential Yacht. This vintage model is scratch built by Vaclav Neidermertl, a master model maker. Vaclac spent most of his life building ship models and has received numerous Bronze and Silver Medals in both his homeland of the Chech Republic and in Vienna, Switzerland where he won the Silver and Bronze medals of Europe from NAVGA. The U.S.S. Potomac is entirely scratch built using only wood, museum board and a pulp based compound, all by hand. The U.S.S. Potomac measures 31" long, 13" tall, and 6" wide. The U.S.S. Potomac was launched June 30, 1934 at the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and commissioned on March 2, 1936, measuring 165 feet long, a 23 feet, 9 inch beam, 8 feet, 1 inch draft, displacing 416 tons. The U.S.S. Potomac was built in 1934 as the Coast Guard cutter Electra. The 165-foot vessel, weighing 376 gross tons and cruising at speeds of 10 to 13 knots, was commissioned as a United States Navy vessel in 1936, renamed the U.S.S. Potomac, and served as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Presidential yacht until his death in 1945. After FDR's death, the Potomac began a long and ignominious decline from her former role in world affairs. After many adventures and many owners – including Elvis Presley at one point – she was seized in 1980 in San Francisco by United States Customs for her role as a front for drug smugglers. Towed to Treasure Island, the proud vessel's hull was pierced one night and she sank. After a 5 million dollar restoration, the U.S.S. Potomac was opened to the public in 1995. The Association for the Preservation of the Presidential Yacht Potomac now operates this National Historic Landmark as an active memorial to Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the momentous times through which he led our nation. A one of a kind model of this grand Presidential vessel.