Historic Preservation and Improvement Fund at Work

Unicorns in Battle, the second-largest artwork aboard the Queen Mary, has undergone an extensive and careful restoration. Crafted by Gilbert William Bayes and Alfred J. Oakley, this striking gesso panel has been a focal point of the Queen’s Salon for decades. Skilled conservators worked meticulously to clean, stabilize, and preserve the piece—bringing back the depth, detail, and vibrancy that had faded over time. Today, the artwork stands renewed, a powerful symbol of our dedication to honoring the ship’s artistic and cultural heritage.

The all-new Queen Mary Archive Museum—an exciting space dedicated to sharing the ship’s rich history. More than 50 artifacts from our collection are now on display, including several rare pieces being exhibited to the public for the very first time. This curated museum experience offers guests a deeper connection to the Queen Mary’s legacy through items that tell the story of her remarkable journey, design, and cultural impact.

As part of our ongoing restoration efforts, the Verandah Grill has been carefully refreshed with new carpeting and thoughtfully installed doors that honor the venue’s original design. These updates were guided by historic references to ensure visual continuity, while using modern materials to support long-term preservation. The result is a renewed space that captures the elegance of the past while being ready to welcome guests once again.

The Queen Mary’s beautiful handrails, which gracefully frame her outer decks, have been carefully refurbished and restored to their former glory. As both a defining design element and an essential architectural feature, these handrails deserved meticulous attention and expert care. Through thoughtful restoration, their original character and craftsmanship have been revived—preserving the elegance and integrity of the ship’s iconic silhouette for generations to come.

Housed within the ship’s former First-Class Drawing Room, the all-new Queen Mary Art Gallery breathes fresh life into one of the vessel’s most elegant and intimate spaces. Once a serene retreat for first-class passengers, this oval-shaped lounge now serves as a curated showcase of artistic expression, honoring the ship’s creative legacy while introducing new works for today’s guests to discover. By thoughtfully reactivating this historic room, we continue our commitment to preserving the Queen Mary’s cultural heritage while inviting a new generation to experience her timeless beauty.

As part of the Queen Mary Art Gallery experience, The Madonna of the Atlantic, by Kenneth Shoesmith, has been returned to its original home in the forward alcove of the ship’s historic Drawing Room. This iconic gilded oil painting has undergone restoration, carefully reviving its original 1936 splendor while ensuring its preservation for generations to come.

A crucial part of the ships restoration process is to maintain historic integrity as well as creating a functional space that accomidates guests needs. The original observation bar had white and red curtains that were drawn throughout the windows, however, when the room was expanded during the Long Beach Conversion the windows and perimeter walls were altered. To provide more shade to guests and help maintain temperatures in the room red shades were recently added. These are inspired by the historic design and decor of the room, while matching modern regulations and guest needs. 

The Queen Mary’s hotel accommodations feature beautifully preserved historic staterooms and cabins located throughout the ship, from B Deck to M Deck, offering guests a unique opportunity to experience maritime history firsthand.As part of an ongoing revitalization effort, 50 previously unavailable guest rooms have been thoughtfully restored and returned to service, blending the ship’s timeless elegance with refreshed comfort and amenities. With these newly reopened accommodations, The Queen Mary now offers 300 distinctive guest rooms, inviting visitors to stay aboard one of the world’s most iconic ocean liners.

The Queen Mary is known as the Ship of Beautiful Woods, 56 different woods were used on the ship from all over the world. Many were extremely rare when they were selected for the ship in 1936, and have reached near extinction in recent years. As part of ongoing preservation efforts, the woodwork is continuously maintained and carefully polished to protect its integrity and appearance. In addition to its extraordinary wood interiors, the ship features high-quality nickel-silver and bronze in its fixtures, instruments, and handrails. These metal elements are regularly cleaned and conserved to prevent tarnish and deterioration, ensuring the vessel’s historic craftsmanship endures.

One of the first preservation efforts undertaken ahead of the 2023 reopening was the installation of automatic bilge pumps on the ship’s lower decks. These pumps serve as a critical safeguard, designed to discharge any water that may enter the vessel. By enhancing onboard water management and protection systems, this project plays an important role in extending the life of the historic Queen Mary and helping to preserve her for future generations.

Much like the enduring legend of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Queen Mary is in a constant state of renewal through ongoing painting and restoration efforts. Every part of the ship receives meticulous cosmetic care to preserve her historic character and timeless elegance. These efforts range from interior painting projects to the recent restoration and repainting of the crow’s nest and cargo beams near the bow.

During her transatlantic voyages, passengers aboard the Queen Mary enjoyed a variety of games and leisure activities on the open-air decks. Today, several of those historic recreation areas have been thoughtfully restored, once again welcoming guests to take part in deck games such as shuffleboard, pickleball, and mini golf. These efforts help bring back the recreational offerings that were once integral to the Queen Mary's ocean going career.