Long Beach · Long Beach Harbor – Pier J
The Queen Mary
A ship, not a building: Cunard's 1936 Art Deco liner, the 'Grey Ghost' troopship of World War II, moored for good in Long Beach as a hotel.
- Built
- 1936Ocean liner built 1934-36 by John Brown & Co. for Cunard; maiden voyage 1936; permanently moored in Long Beach as a hotel and attraction.
- Style
- Art Deco interiors
- Architect
- George McLeod Paterson (Cunard chief naval architect)
- Type
- Grand hotel
- Area
- Long Beach Harbor – Pier J
- Credentials
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Historic Hotels of America member
The story
Cunard Line launched the Queen Mary from Clydebank in 1936 with lavish Art Deco interiors, and she carried celebrities, royalty and travelers across the Atlantic. In World War II she was painted gray, nicknamed the ‘Grey Ghost’, and fitted with bunks to carry troops. After her transatlantic career she was permanently moored in Long Beach, where she operates as a hotel and museum.
The ghost story
HHA calls the ship one of the world's most legendary haunted destinations, with stories centered on Watertight Door 13, Stateroom B340, a Lady in White in the grand public rooms and an alleged 'vortex' at the former first-class pool; the front desk has received reports about B340 such as flickering lights and running faucets. All of this is reported lore.
Source: www.historichotels.org
Good to know
- Address: 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90802
Things to do
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Last verified October 2026. Details change; confirm with the inn before you book.