Have you ever dined on a ship that once sailed the world? Standing right before you is the Moshulu, a magnificent four-masted barque, the largest remaining of its kind. The Moshulu is a true piece of history, and its story is as rich and captivating as the dishes it serves. Built in 1904, it was originally named the Kurt, christened by a man who was a pivotal figure in Hamburg’s shipping industry. The Kurt carried goods across the globe, from coal from Wales to South America, nitrate from Chile to Germany, and even coke from Newcastle, Australia. Its sail plan, 4,180 square meters of canvas, propelled the ship on its voyages, with one of its fastest times documented at 17 knots.
During World War I, the ship was seized by the United States, renamed the Moshulu, its name meaning “fear nothing.” The Moshulu is the world’s oldest and largest four-masted tall ship. It was even featured in the movie, “The Godfather Part II.” But its journey wasn’t over. Later, a Finnish businessman purchased the Moshulu and used it in the grain trade. The Moshulu was later bought by a restaurant corporation. In 1975, it was towed to Philadelphia and opened as a floating restaurant on Penn’s Landing. The ship’s interior still echoes with the past, and you can see the golden oval-shaped tiles on the bar. Today, the Moshulu still sails the seas, but this time, it’s the seas of culinary delight.