American Hawaii Cruises: Here is an actual piece of handrail from one of the last remaining great American liners, the INDEPENDENCE. When launched in 1950, the INDEPENDENCE and CONSTITUTION were shining symbols of Yankee style and ingenuity. Their streamlined exteriors was fitted with counter sterns, an American Export trademark. Henry Dreyfuss designed the interiors and came up with a thoroughly American look that was clean and simple. The INDY and CONNIE were the first big ships that were completely air conditioned. First Class often included celebrities such as Grace Kelly who traveled with her wedding party and dog aboard the CONNIE on her way to wed Prince Rainier. Other notables who traveled on these ships included President Harry Truman, Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, and the kings of Morocco and Saudi Arabia. Second Class passengers of note (in my book anyway) included my parents and three older brothers who traveled on the CONSTITUTION to Italy in 1955, and the Leavitt family again in 1957, this time on the INDEPENDENCE and with a squirming sixth member (myself). The ships were so popular that in the late 1950s they were sailing at 90% occupancy. But of course the good times ended in the 1960s with passenger loads tapering off as the jet took over. By the late 1960s both ships were laid up and in the early 1970s were sold to Hong Kong shipping magnate C.Y. Tung. Thankfully for all us liner buffs, Tung had the foresight to start-up a Hawaiian islands cruise service in the early 1980s using both ships. And there the INDY and CONNIE successfully sailed for many more years. In 1995 the aging CONSTITUTION was retired and she was completely stripped of all furniture and fittings to be used as spares for her sister. While undergoing a tow to the scrappers in India, she began taking on water and listing. The tug cut the tow cable, and shortly after the CONSTITUTION disappeared beneath the sea. The INDEPENDENCE sailed on until shortly after 9/11 when the disruption in tourism forced her operator, American Hawaii Cruises, out of business. For most of the 2000s the ship was tied up to a pier in San Francisco harbor. On February 7, 2008, the INDY was finally towed away to the breakers. For photos of this sad moment go here: http://maritimematters.blogspot.com/2008/02/bay-area-blog-2-by-peter-knego.html. Which leads me to this souvenir. Celebrations were held during the INDEPENDENCE's 1000th voyage in the summer of 1999. A section of her mahogany handrail was removed and sliced into sections as a commemorative souvenir. This relic from one of America's greatest ships measures 2 +" by 7" and is fitted with a brass plaque which reads, "Voyage 1000, S.S. INDEPENDENCE, August 14, 1999". I wonder if Grace Kelly or Great Garbo once held onto this piece? Nautiques customer Eric Lugo sent me a photo of his dad, Manuel Lugo, standing by the railing. Manuel served onboard the INDY as a First Class bedroom steward during her entire American Export career. The other photo shows my family during a lifeboat drill on the INDY in the summer of 1957. I am the handsome bald one (without glasses) on my mother's lap. The railing is clearly visible in the background. For more recent photos, check out photographer Jonathan Haeber's photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunnelbug/sets/72157601924077145/