The “legendary” Moshulu is indeed the world’s oldest and largest square-rigged sailing vessel still afloat. She is in fact the one and only restaurant venue on a Tall Ship today in the World and provides an excellent setting for the Moshulu Proposal Photographer shoot. Built by William Hamilton & Co., Port of Glasgow, Scotland in 1904 for the G.J.H Siemers Co. of Hamburg, Germany as the four-masted barque Kurt. This “state-of-the-art” sailing ship was the finest and latest of man’s achievements in the world’s shipbuilding industry for the construction of bulk or packaged cargo sailing ships. With her impressive dimensions of 359 ft. in length (on deck), 47 ft. in breadth, and 3,116 gross tons, the Moshulu ex-Kurt began her colorful career carrying coal to Chilean ports (via Cape Horn) The ship was confiscated by the US Navy in 1917 and was temporarily named the “Dreadnught”, meaning “fearless” after the famous clipper ships of the time. The ship was re-named the Moshulu by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson (of Indian extraction herself) to honor the native American (Seneca Indian Tribe) meaning “One who Fears Nothing”. Moshulu continued serving as a carrier of many different types of cargo for many years. Through the “roaring” ’40s and early ’50s, the Moshulu experienced a rather sad variety of incidents. Shorn of masts and rig, these being destroyed by a bombardment, she broke her moorings and capsized in a gale near a beach close to shore off Narvik in 1947, only to be refloated and put into early retirement. She was then purchased by the Finnish State Granary in 1961 for 3,200 tons of Russian rye, only to become a grain storage hulk in Finland. But it was destined to become a museum restaurant, and in 1975 after a complete restoration in Holland it was towed to the South Street Sean Port in New York, and then later moved to Philadelphia to fulfill her role as a restaurant. Moshulu closed in 1989 after being damaged by a four-alarm fire.  In 1994, the Moshulu was purchased by HMS Ventures, Inc.; and under Mrs. Dodo Hamilton of the Campbell’s Soup family, Moshulu was painstakingly restored in Camden to her original glory and opened as a restaurant on the Delaware River in 1996, docked at Pier 34 on Philadelphia’s waterfront. In 2002 the Moshulu was relocated to its current location and opened its doors to the world again in May of 2003 by its current owners, SCC Restaurants LLC  to gain recognition as an award-winning, AAA 4 Diamond rated Restaurant, Bar and Deck. It most recently completed an entire renovation of the outside decks and interior spaces and continues to be not only a dining destination but a local iconic restaurant as well.

The ensuing pictures capture not only the wonderful setting of the beautiful boat but also highlights the specialness of the occasion – the proposal by Alex to his special woman, Kyle. They highlight their special moments while providing the uniqueness of this floating restaurant.