A poster advertises the Red Star Line in 1899. The company enjoyed a golden era of transatlantic ocean travel, and during its heyday two vessels left for North America each week. Over two million passengers sailed between Europe and the New World with the boat company before its closure in 1934, including one Nobel Prize winning scientist......
Golden age —
A poster advertises the Red Star Line in 1899. The company enjoyed a golden era of transatlantic ocean travel, and during its heyday two vessels left for North America each week. Over two million passengers sailed between Europe and the New World with the boat company before its closure in 1934, including one Nobel Prize winning scientist......
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
Albert Einstein poses on the deck of the SS Belgenland, 1930. He was one of 2.5 million passengers who sailed between Europe and North America with the Red Star Line shipping company from 1873 to 1934. He resigned from the Prussian Academy of Sciences on the ship's stationary -- the letter now appears in the new $25 million Red Star Line Museum in Belgium.
Einstein aboard —
Albert Einstein poses on the deck of the SS Belgenland, 1930. He was one of 2.5 million passengers who sailed between Europe and North America with the Red Star Line shipping company from 1873 to 1934. He resigned from the Prussian Academy of Sciences on the ship's stationary -- the letter now appears in the new $25 million Red Star Line Museum in Belgium.
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
The German-born scientist relaxes in his first class cabin with wife Elsa. It was on board one of many Red Star Line trips that Einstein found out the Nazis had confiscated his property.
Luxury living —
The German-born scientist relaxes in his first class cabin with wife Elsa. It was on board one of many Red Star Line trips that Einstein found out the Nazis had confiscated his property.
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
The Red Star Line processing warehouses in Antwerp (pictured here in 1923), have now been converted into a state-of-the-art museum.
Historic building —
The Red Star Line processing warehouses in Antwerp (pictured here in 1923), have now been converted into a state-of-the-art museum.
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
New life has been breathed into the red brick buildings, which had been abandoned on the Rhine Quay. They include a viewing tower shaped like a ship's funnel.
New Life —
New life has been breathed into the red brick buildings, which had been abandoned on the Rhine Quay. They include a viewing tower shaped like a ship's funnel.
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
Inside are over 5,000 pieces of memorabilia, including stories, pictures, letters, even the piano of passenger and composer Irving Berlin -- famous composer of songs "White Christmas" and "There's No Business Like Show Business."
Interactive experience —
Inside are over 5,000 pieces of memorabilia, including stories, pictures, letters, even the piano of passenger and composer Irving Berlin -- famous composer of songs "White Christmas" and "There's No Business Like Show Business."
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
Today there are believed to be just five surviving Red Star Line passengers, including 85-year-old Sonia Pressman Fuentes, pictured here as a child with her mother Hinda, father Zysia, and brother Hermann.
Family affair —
Today there are believed to be just five surviving Red Star Line passengers, including 85-year-old Sonia Pressman Fuentes, pictured here as a child with her mother Hinda, father Zysia, and brother Hermann.
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
This remarkable image shows Fuentes in Antwerp's city park, standing in the very same spot she did with her brother Hermann, as a child. The family sailed from Antwerp to New York in 1934, with Fuentes later becoming a lawyer, author, and one of the founders of the National Organization for Women (NOW).
Survival story —
This remarkable image shows Fuentes in Antwerp's city park, standing in the very same spot she did with her brother Hermann, as a child. The family sailed from Antwerp to New York in 1934, with Fuentes later becoming a lawyer, author, and one of the founders of the National Organization for Women (NOW).
Courtesy Red Star Line Museum
Here, the SS Belgenland sets off from Antwerp. A quarter of all Red Star Line passengers to North America were Jewish, and Fuentes says the company played an integral role in helping to save her family from the Nazis.
Lifesaver —
Here, the SS Belgenland sets off from Antwerp. A quarter of all Red Star Line passengers to North America were Jewish, and Fuentes says the company played an integral role in helping to save her family from the Nazis.
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
But traveling to the New World wasn't cheap, with a third class ticket costing the equivalent of $1,300 in today's money. Here, third class passengers dine in cramped conditions in 1925.
Class system —
But traveling to the New World wasn't cheap, with a third class ticket costing the equivalent of $1,300 in today's money. Here, third class passengers dine in cramped conditions in 1925.
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
"In the early years, third class passengers were in large, communal cabins without water or light. They could go outside for some air once a day," said museum co-ordinator Luc Verheyen.
All aboard —
"In the early years, third class passengers were in large, communal cabins without water or light. They could go outside for some air once a day," said museum co-ordinator Luc Verheyen.
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
Before boarding, third class passengers would also take hour-long showers with hot vinegar and benzene, cleaning them of lice, while their luggage was disinfected in large steam sterilizing machines (pictured).
Keeping clean —
Before boarding, third class passengers would also take hour-long showers with hot vinegar and benzene, cleaning them of lice, while their luggage was disinfected in large steam sterilizing machines (pictured).
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
It was a different story for first class passengers, who had all the comforts of a luxury hotel, such as this ballroom pictured in 1910.
First class —
It was a different story for first class passengers, who had all the comforts of a luxury hotel, such as this ballroom pictured in 1910.
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem
This picture of an unknown passenger features in the new multimillion dollar museum, with the title: "Do you know this girl?"
Do you know this girl? —
This picture of an unknown passenger features in the new multimillion dollar museum, with the title: "Do you know this girl?"
Courtesy Red Star Line Musuem