Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Ryan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Lindsay Ryan, and I serve as the Director of Guest Experience and Public Outreach at the American Victory Ship and Museum. I earned my Master of Arts in History from the University of South Florida in 2021, and I’ve always had a passion for museums, history, and education. During my studies, I developed a particular interest in Public History and Museum Studies, which inspired me to pursue a career where I could both preserve the past and make it engaging and accessible to the public. Working at the American Victory Ship and Museum has allowed me to turn that passion into reality. In my role, I oversee grant writing, coordinate field trips and group tours, manage staff and volunteer training, and lead educational outreach and programming. Every day, alongside our dedicated team, I have the privilege of helping to preserve this historic vessel and creating opportunities for visitors to experience history in an immersive and meaningful way.
The American Victory Ship and Museum, located in Tampa, Florida, is a fully operational World War II Victory ship, one of only 3 Victory class cargo ships remaining. Launched in 1945, the SS American Victory served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, transporting troops, cargo, and supplies. Today, she operates as a maritime museum, offering visitors a rare, hands-on experience aboard a historic vessel. Guests can explore cargo holds, the engine room, crew quarters, and the bridge. The ship also hosts educational programs, special events, and military and first responder training. The American Victory Ship and Museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the U.S. Merchant Marine and maritime military history.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Since the SS American Victory arrived in Tampa in September 1999, dedicated volunteers have invested over 1,000,000 hours to restore, maintain and operate the vessel. The American Victory Ship and Museum receives no consistent city, state, federal or tax dollar financial support. It relies heavily on private donations, county grants, fundraising and grassroots efforts, and sincere dedication from its group of committed volunteers. The American Victory Ship and Museum is always looking for new and dedicated volunteers to join our crew. Volunteers help with field trips, provide guided tours, work on maintenance, engineering, and restoration projects, and assist with event set up and operation.
What matters most to you?
The American Victory Ship and Museum, recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, is an important piece of history that must be preserved for future generations. This vessel not only serves as a museum, but as a memorial to those who built these ships and to those who bravely served on them.
The American Victory Ship and Museum has served as a crucial platform for thousands of training hours for a wide range of organizations over her 25 years in Tampa. The S.S. American Victory has hosted all branches of the Department of Defense as well as Special Operations Command and Central Command; Department of Justice Organizations such as Federal Bureau of Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration; Department of Homeland Security, U.S Customs and Border Protections, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Coast Guard as well as City, County and State law enforcement agencies and more. These training evolutions include courses such as: K9, confined space rescue, firefighting, visit board search and seizure, threat neutralization, explosive ordnance disposal, nuclear chemical and biological response, mass casualty evacuation, and more.
The American Victory Ship and Museum is visited by tens of thousands of guests annually and acts as an educational platform for Tampa Bay’s Seven County area as well as throughout the State of Florida, including; AMI Kids, Jefferson and Blake High School Maritime Education Programs, collaboration with USF College of Arts and Sciences and the USF Muma College of Business, and various other public and home school programs. Additionally she serves as the homebase for the American Victory Division and other regional Sea Cadet, Scout, and ROTC programs. She also hosts international programs such as; the Training Ship (TS) Gunilla, a Swedish vessel which circumnavigates the Globe as an International education platform.
Pricing:
- Adults $15
- Youth $10
- Military/Veteran $12
- Senior $12
- Student $12
Contact Info:
- Website: https://americanvictory.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americanvictoryship/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americanvictory
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-victory-ship-museum/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ssamericanvictory
