Ship Images

For those doing research on ships there are many sources for images. The gallery below displays selected images from the Library of Congress' collections for older ships. Other sources for locating images for more current and active ships are found below the gallery.

view of the docked ship from the bow looking toward the stearn

Harris & Ewing, photographer. Ship. Between 1909 and 1914. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

view of side of ship at sail with two towers

Harris & Ewing, photographer. Ship. Between 1913 and 1917. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

ship docked looking at the bow with 3 masts

Bain News Service. U.S. Naval ship Severn, that served as the tender to the 1st Submarine Division in the Panama Canal between 1913 and 1916. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

ship docked and being loaded and the dock is coved with people many in uniforms and crates

Harris & Ewing, photographer. The Henderson. 1927. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Sources for Ship Images

Images of specific ships, especially those from the heyday of ship travel can be found in many places. Often they can be found in particular books like Facts for Travelers External (1908) that had many drawings and photographs of ship exteriors as well as descriptions and images of cabins, dining rooms, and libraries and other public interiors.

Below are sources to search for ship images some are free some are subscription based. The subscription resources marked with a padlock are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.

Ancestry Library Edition External This link opens in a new window
There are over 1,000 images of ships (photograph or artistic rendering) as part of the Pictures section as a way for those searching to see an image of the ship their ancestors arrived on. Information with the image can include: Line sailed under, Builder, Ship type, Tonnage, Dimensions, Number of masts and funnels, Ship history, and Years in service. It isn't comprehensive but it is being updated. Most of these records are related to the immigration records from the U.S. Census Bureau. Check your local public library or historical society for access.

Pictures of United States Navy Ships (1775-1941)
This site was created by the National Archives and includes photographs and photographs of artworks or models of ships that depict types of ships used by the Navy from the Revolutionary War period to December 7, 1941, before America's entry into the Second World War. Ships commissioned before the use of steel for ship construction was begun in 1883 are listed under Early Ships subdivided by method of propulsion, and listed thereunder chronologically by date of commissioning while ships commissioned after 1883 are listed under Modern Ships and are subdivided by general class, such as auxiliary or destroyer, and thereunder chronologically. Information for Early or Modern ships are a bit different.
Ships: Navigating for Images at the Library of Congress
This is a guide from the Prints & Photographs Division and provides guidance on finding images. The images are scattered throughout the collections but are strongest between the years 1850 and 1950. The earlier the date the more likely we are to have an illustration rather than a photograph.
ShipSpotting.com External
This is a participatory site with member contributions. Some content is free but members can contribute and see more. It includes almost 2 million photographs. You can search and browse by ship type.