SS Santa Rosa (1916)

The SS Santa Rosa was a passenger and cargo steamship built in 1916 by William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for W. R. Grace and Company's Grace Line. She was one of four sister ships, the others being the Santa Ana, Santa Elisa, and Santa Teresa. These ships provided passenger and freight service between New York City and the west coast of South America via the Panama Canal.

The Santa Rosa was requisitioned by the United States Navy during World War I and commissioned as the USS Santa Rosa (ID-2207) in 1918. She served as a transport ship, carrying troops and supplies between the United States and Europe. After the war, she was returned to Grace Line and resumed her commercial service.

Throughout the interwar period, the Santa Rosa continued to operate on her established routes, becoming a familiar sight in ports along both the east and west coasts of the Americas. She was known for her comfortable accommodations and reliable service.

During World War II, the Santa Rosa was again taken over by the U.S. government and used as a troop transport. Following the war, she was returned to Grace Line for a second time. However, by this point, she was becoming increasingly outdated.

The Santa Rosa was eventually sold for scrap in 1950. Her career spanned two World Wars and several decades of commercial service, making her a significant vessel in the history of American shipping. She represents a key link in trade and transportation between North and South America during the first half of the 20th century.