1929-1936 1936-1943 1943-1966 1967-1980 1983-1997 Queen Mary Statistics Titanic vs. Queen Mary

Queen Mary History: 1983 - 1997

• Spring 1992: Aero Club of Southern California announces sale of Spruce Goose to Evergreen International Aviation Inc. in McMinnville, Oregon.

• May 14, 1983: Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose flying boat opens to the public next to The Queen Mary.

• March 29, 1988: Walt Disney Company buys Wrather Corporation for 152 million. The agreement includes the Disneyland Hotel, and management of The Queen Mary and Spruce Goose property.

• January 1, 1992: City of Long Beach resumes responsibility for the Queen Mary from the Port of Long Beach.

• March 6, 1992: Disney advises the City and Port of Long Beach that it will end its lease for the operation of the Queen Mary and Spruce Goose. The company agrees to operate the attraction until September 30, 1992.

• September 30, 1992: Walt Disney Company gives up lease on Queen Mary and Spruce Goose property. Remainder of 1992, The Port of Long Beach becomes operator of property, and looks for new operator. Hotel Queen Mary closes.

• October 2, 1992: Spruce Goose is moved out of The Dome and put on barges headed to McMinnville, Oregon, having been sold to Evergreen International Aviation Inc.

• December 31, 1992: Queen Mary closes.

• February 5, 1993: Joseph F. Prevratil, President & CEO of RMS Foundation, Inc. signs five-year lease with the city of Long Beach to act as operators of The Queen Mary.

• February 26, 1993: The Queen Mary reopens to the public. Self-guided and guided "Captain's Tour" resume. Most restaurants and Sunday Brunch are back.

• March 5, 1993: Hotel Queen Mary reopens with 125 rooms operational. Banquet rooms operational.

• April 17, 1993: Audio Tours reopen. English, German, Japanese, Spanish.

• April 30, 1993: Remainder of Hotel Queen Mary's 365 rooms reopen.

• May 12, 1993: Captain John Treasure Jones, the 33rd and last captain of The Queen Mary dies at the age of 87 at his home in Chandler's Ford, England, just north of the port town of Southampton.

• Summer 1995: RMS Foundation, Inc., operator of Queen Mary Seaport, commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War II and pays tribute to the Queen Mary's service as a troopship nicknamed "The Grey Ghost."

• June 23 - July 4, 1993: Grand Opening ceremonies announcing Queen Mary Seaport, the new property-wide name given to the 55 acres adjoining the historic Queen Mary. Queen Mary Seaport includes The Queen Mary Attraction and The Hotel Queen Mary aboard the ship; The Dome at the Queen Mary, formerly home to Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose; The Queen's Marketplace, formerly Londontowne Village, and the surrounding property.

• September 26, 1994: Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Launch and Naming of the great liner. Officiating are RMS Foundation President Joseph F. Prevratil; H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent representing the British Royal Family, grandson of Her Majesty Queen Mary; Scotland's Clydebank District Provost Jack McAllister and other special guests.

• May 8, 1996: Queen Mary celebrates the 25th Anniversary of its Opening Day.

• May 27, 1996: RMS Foundation, Inc., schedules Diamond Jubilee Celebration for the 60th Anniversary of the Queen Mary's Maiden Voyage from Southampton to New York.

• May 31, 1997: "Titanic: The Expedition" exhibit makes its West Coast debut aboard the Queen Mary.

• December 9, 1997: The Queen Mary celebrates 30 years in Long Beach.