August 1, 1888 the Inman liner City of New York sailed on her maiden voyage from Liverpool, it was the first voyage of a ship that would have one of the most colorful careers in maritime history. She docked in New York on Aug. 10 after a splendid crossing, but there had been a small breakdown after leaving Queenstown. Her circulating pumps had failed and she sat idle for half a day until they were repaired. After this minor delay she steamed at a little over 16 knots across the vast Atlantic with no further trouble.

Her arrival in New York was greatly anticipated and as soon as she came into sight the city was alerted, she was reported off Fire Island at 01:15. An abundance of small vessels came out to greet the new liner, the liner Germanic passed her on her way out of New York, it was said that the Germanic appeared small compared to the new ship.

Upon her arrival at the dock there was another small problem, so many of the 463 passengers went to the port side of the ship to wave at the crowd that she took on a pronounceable list and when she passed the pier house one of her davits carried away part of the roof. This aside all onboard were quite pleased with the new ship. With her maiden voyage completed and the ship now sitting in the city who's name she bore, the City of New York was put on public display. The general public could tour the ship for .50¢ each, the money collected being given to local charities. She sailed out of New York on Aug. 18 to return to Liverpool and a very interesting career to follow.

She sailed under four different names, served as a passenger liner, auxiliary cruiser and troopship, she nearly collided with the Titanic when the latter was departing Southhampton on her maiden voyage. She was the first twin screw steamer ever built, she was the last trans-Atlantic liner built with a clipper bow and she was the largest ship of her time save the Great Eastern. She was there at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba and in the Great War she hit a mine laid by one of the Kaiser's U-boats. She held the Blue Riband and was watched in the papers on both sides of the Atlantic like a modern day rock star. All this could not however stave off the inevitable, in 1923 this grand old lady of the sea was scrapped in Genoa, Italy.