A Century-Old Masterpiece of Oak, Teak, and Steel
Built in 1904 for Scottish landowner and British Army officer William Macalister Hall, Medea is a stunning example of early 20th-century luxury steam yachts. Crafted with a steel hull and elegantly furnished with teak and quarter-sawn oak, she was originally used for social occasions and hunting trips around the Scottish isles. Her peaceful beginnings were soon interrupted by war, as Medea was acquired by the French Navy during World War I, armed with a 75mm gun, depth charges, and an observation balloon, and renamed Corneille to serve as a convoy escort.
During World War II, Medea joined the Royal Navy as a barrage balloon vessel guarding the River Thames before later serving as an accommodation ship for Norwegian commando officers in Scotland. After the war, she returned to British civilian service, changing hands multiple times and cruising off Cornwall and the Isle of Wight. By the late 1960s, her condition had deteriorated, but she caught the eye of oilman Paul Whittier, who fondly remembered similar steam yachts from his youth. In 1971, Whittier purchased and restored Medea before generously donating her to the Maritime Museum of San Diego, where she arrived in 1973.
Today, Medea is part of the museum’s fleet. While no longer carrying paying passengers, she still offers a glimpse into the golden age of steam yachting.
