The Panama Pacific Line: America’s Intercoastal Gateway via the Panama Canal
Panama-Pacific Line,—Regular fortnightly sailings from New York to San Francisco, calling at Habana, Balboa, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Returning from San Francisco to New York, calling at Los Angeles, Balboa, Cristobal, and Habana; carrying mail, ist and tourist class passengers (Virginia, California, Pennsylvania); W. Andrews & Co., Cri. 22 61, Bal. 12 58, Passenger agents, Fidanque Bros.& Sons., Bal. 8 (Pan. 666). (Lines to the Panama Canal, Revised as of 1 June 1930, Panama Canal Press, 1930)
Explore the Panama Pacific Line’s role in U.S. intercoastal travel through the Panama Canal. This archival collection features passenger lists, fleet details, advertisements, and historical insights—ideal for genealogists, historians, and maritime enthusiasts.
Passenger Trips through the Canal
The following lines operating passenger vessels through the Canal carry local passengers from one terminal to the other: Dollar Line, Grace Line, Hamburg- American Line, Johnson Line, Navigazione Generale Italiana, North German Lloyd, Pacific Steam Navigation Co., Panama Mail Steamship Co. The Panama-Pacific Line carries such passengers from Balboa to Cristobal only.
All of the lines named above charge $6 for the voyage through the Canal with the exception of the Navigazione Generale Italiana, the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., and the Panama-Pacific Line, on which the charge for first-class passage is $10; the Panama-Pacific Line has also a rate of $6 for tourist class. (Lines to the Panama Canal, Revised as of 1 June 1930, Panama Canal Press, 1930)
SS Finland sailed for several subsidiary lines of International Mercantile Marine, including the Red Star Line, and also under charter for the White Star Line, the Panama Pacific Line, and the American Line.
SS Kroonland sailed for International Mercantile Marine's Red Star, American Line, and Panama Pacific Line. According to The New York Times, SS Kroonland became the first ship to issue a wireless distress call at sea when she radioed for help during a storm in 1903.
Passengers desiring information regarding return passage on steamers of the United States Lines or associated lines, including the Panama Pacific Line to and from California, can obtain it from the Chief Purser. Reservations will be secured by radio and deposits to cover received. (Return Accommodations, SS President Harding Passenger List - 1 September 1937)
Advertisement: Panama Pacific Line, New York to San Francisco Through the Panama Canal, Calling at Havana and Los Angeles en Route. RMS Homeric Passenger List, 27 May 1925. GGA Image ID # 1f0d07909f
Advertisement: Panama Pacific Line, 1928. RMS Baltic Cabin Class Passenger List, 3 March 1928. GGA Image ID # 20c11edea3
Advertisement: Panama Pacific Line - The Ideal Way to Travel from Coast to Coast Is Aboard the Fine, Large Trans-Atlantic Vessels. SS Doric Passenger List, 19 May 1928. GGA Image ID # 206be7c6ff
Panama Pacific Line, a United States Lines Company, Advertisement for a 17-Day, 5,000 Mile "Cruse-Voyages" via the Famous Sunshine Route to California and Mexico by Sea for $160.00 up ($185 up, Some Seasons) 1938. GGA Image ID # 15e208cae4
Advertisement, To California and Mexico by Sea. 17-Day, 5,000 Mile Cruise Voyages via the Famous Sunshine Route on the Steamships of the Panama Pacific Line, A United States Lines Company. SS President Roosevelt Passenger List, 31 August 1938. GGA Image ID # 1ef5a1f965
California Welcomes Return of Panama Pacific Line - 1938
THE citizens of Los Angeles and San Francisco extended a typical A California welcome to the first two ships, the City of Los Angeles and the City of San Francisco, upon their initial arrival, inaugurating the resumption of Panama Pacific Line passenger service between New York and Pacific Coast ports.
Since early April—four and one-half months ago—the Panama Pacific house flag has been seen on the Pacific. On April 9th, to be exact, the big turbo-electric liner California bade farewell to the Pacific, thus interrupting intercoastal passenger service for the first time in nearly twenty years.
The Grace and Panama Pacific Lines maintained regular and dependable intercoastal passenger service for many years. Various circumstances then developed that made the trade unprofitable, and the four vessels of the Grace Line—Santa Rosa, Santa Elena, Santa Paula, and Santa Lucia—and the three Panama Pacific liners Pennsylvania, Virginia, and California were withdrawn from this service and transferred to other trade routes. During the interim, no intercoastal passenger service was available.
This lack of service was immediately recognized as a serious problem from several viewpoints. Citizens' "Save-Our-Ships" committees were formed in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and representatives of these committees went to Washington and registered complaints with administrative executives and congressional committees. The fight was taken to both houses of Congress for governmental action toward establishing means to restore this vital service.
The government had taken over the three former Panama Pacific liners for another trade route. No other private vessels were available, so suitable replacements for the government's subsidized fleets must be found.
The Baltimore Mail Line, operating five combination passenger-cargo vessels from Baltimore to Europe, was deemed a non-essential route for subsidy purposes, and the route was discontinued. These five vessels. City of Hamburg, City of Havre. City of Baltimore.
The SS City of Newport News and the SS City of Norfolk have all been reconditioned and now constitute the regular Panama Pacific fleet. A sixth vessel, the American Traveler, is being added to the fleet to maintain a regular weekly service in the intercoastal trade. Honoring the two Pacific ports served by Panama Pacific, the SS City of Hamburg and the SS City of Havre have been renamed the SS City of San Francisco and the SS City of Los Angeles, respectively.
So. to the Panama Pacific Line executives, to those Pacific Coast citizens who spared no effort to impress the necessity of an intercoastal passenger ship service, and to the Congressional delegation representing the Pacific Coast states is extended the sincere appreciation of the Western seaboard populace for their successful efforts in restoring this vital service.
"California Welcomes Return of Panama Pacific Line," in The Log, San Francisco: The Log Publications, Inc., Vol. 31, No. 6, September 1938, p. 16.
Review and Summary of the Panama Pacific Line Archival Collection
Introduction: A Vital Link Between Coasts
The Panama Pacific Line (PPL) played a crucial role in connecting the East and West Coasts of the United States via the Panama Canal, offering a comfortable alternative to cross-country rail travel. Operating regular fortnightly sailings between New York and San Francisco, the line served both first-class and tourist passengers while carrying mail and cargo.
For teachers, students, historians, and genealogists, this collection offers an in-depth look at intercoastal travel and its economic significance in early 20th-century America. From passenger lists and ship records to advertisements and political efforts to save the service, this archive is a treasure trove of maritime history.
Key Highlights from the Collection
1. The Panama Pacific Line’s Historic Route and Fleet
The Panama Pacific Line provided a crucial link between New York and California, sailing through Havana, Balboa (Panama), and Los Angeles.
Regular Route:
- Eastbound: San Francisco → Los Angeles → Panama Canal → Havana → New York
- Westbound: New York → Havana → Panama Canal → San Diego → Los Angeles → San Francisco
The Panama Canal revolutionized U.S. domestic shipping, allowing travelers to bypass the long, hazardous voyage around Cape Horn or cross-country train travel.
Fleet and Notable Ships:
- SS California
- SS Pennsylvania
- SS Virginia
- SS City of San Francisco (formerly City of Hamburg)
- SS City of Los Angeles (formerly City of Havre)
- SS Kroonland – First ship to issue a wireless distress call at sea (1903).
🔹 Why This Matters:
- Historians can explore how the Panama Canal reshaped U.S. transportation and commerce.
- Genealogists can trace passenger movements between the East and West Coasts.
2. The Panama Pacific Line’s Role in Passenger Travel
During the early to mid-20th century, the Panama Pacific Line was one of the most convenient ways to travel between the U.S. coasts.
- Fortnightly departures allowed travelers to avoid long train rides across the country.
- The service catered to both luxury travelers (first-class) and economy tourists.
- The line was a preferred method of travel for business executives, vacationers, and military personnel.
Passenger Lists in the Archive:
- First and Tourist Class Passengers (1925-1938)
- Passenger manifests documenting intercoastal travel
- Records of prominent figures traveling between New York and California
🔹 Why This Matters:
- Students and researchers can examine how sea travel competed with trains and later, airplanes.
- Genealogists can use passenger lists to track family members who traveled between coasts.
3. Advertisements: Selling the "Ideal Way to Travel"
The Panama Pacific Line marketed itself as the superior alternative to rail travel, emphasizing luxury, convenience, and scenic ocean routes.
Notable Advertisements in the Archive:
- 1925-1928 Ads – Promoted Panama Pacific’s transatlantic-sized ships and premier service.
- 1938 "Cruise Voyages" Ad – Marketed 17-day luxury cruises to California and Mexico via the "Famous Sunshine Route".
Emphasis on spacious accommodations, fine dining, and smooth voyages compared to cross-country railroads.
🔹 Why This Matters:
- Historians can study how travel was marketed before the rise of commercial aviation.
- Business students can examine how advertising shaped consumer preferences in the travel industry.
4. The Political Battle to Save the Panama Pacific Line (1938)
By the late 1930s, economic challenges threatened intercoastal passenger service, leading to a major political movement to reinstate it.
The service was suspended in early 1938, disrupting coastal tourism and business travel.
Citizens' "Save-Our-Ships" committees in San Francisco and Los Angeles petitioned Congress and the Roosevelt administration.
The U.S. government reassigned ships from Baltimore’s European routes, bringing back the City of San Francisco and City of Los Angeles to restore service.
This was one of the first major public efforts to preserve a national passenger shipping service.
🔹 Why This Matters:
- Political historians can analyze government intervention in commercial shipping.
- Economists can study how infrastructure changes (e.g., aviation growth) disrupted sea travel industries.
5. The Legacy and Decline of the Panama Pacific Line
While the Panama Pacific Line was vital in its time, the rise of air travel and highway expansion led to its decline.
Challenges That Led to the End of Service:
- Airlines reduced coast-to-coast travel time from days to hours.
- Railroads and the growing interstate highway system competed for budget travelers.
- World War II requisitioned many passenger ships for military use, accelerating the decline of intercoastal services.
- By the 1950s, the Panama Pacific Line ceased operations, marking the end of an era in intercoastal sea travel.
🔹 Why This Matters:
- Maritime historians can explore the decline of passenger shipping in the U.S.
- Transportation researchers can analyze how different industries adapted to new technologies.
Final Thoughts: Why This Collection is Essential
The Panama Pacific Line Archival Collection is a comprehensive resource for understanding early 20th-century U.S. passenger shipping, offering a window into the rise and fall of intercoastal sea travel.
✅ Documents the Panama Canal’s impact on U.S. domestic travel.
✅ Preserves passenger lists valuable for genealogical research.
✅ Showcases historic travel advertising strategies.
✅ Provides insight into government efforts to sustain passenger shipping.
🔹 Who Should Explore This Collection?
- Genealogists researching family travel records between New York and California.
- Historians studying the evolution of intercoastal transportation.
- Educators teaching the impact of the Panama Canal on U.S. commerce.
- Maritime enthusiasts exploring steamship fleets and their historical significance.
This rich collection of records, advertisements, and political movements offers valuable insights into a unique chapter of American maritime history, preserving the legacy of ocean travel between the U.S. coasts.
