Due to enemy U-boats during 1942, millions of tons of ships and cargo were lost during WWII. This high loss necessitated the need for more ships that were stronger, larger, and can hold vast amounts of cargo.

During 1942 the U.S. Maritime Commission chose 16 sites around the nation to build what would be termed "Liberty Ships." Brunswick was one of the towns chosen.

Headed by the J.A. Jones Construction Company, about 99 ships were built by the 16,000 plus employees of Brunswick's shipyards. In 1943 the first keel was laid for one of these 447 foot, 3500 ton steel vessels, vessels that sailed across the oceans anonymously so that the enemy would have no idea as to what these ships were up too. Four ships were produced each month, the last month of production, during the Battle of the Bulge, 6 ships were requested to be made. The patriotic citizens of Brunswick rallied around their shipyards and produced seven vessels to aid the war effort.

Each ship was christened with a name before setting off, most named after important men of the time and of the nation's history.

Upon war's end in 1945, the J.A. Jones Construction Company closed the shipyards, on their way out, they donated a model of one of the Liberty Ships that was used in training the employees. For many years this model sat at the foot of the St. Simons Island Causeway, eventually though, the model fell to ruins and had to be scrapped.

Around 1987 the local Navy League started raising funds to build a new model. On 23 August 1991 a brand new 23 foot vessel was completed, making it the "100th Liberty Ship" build by Brunswick. And, like all vessels before it, this ship was christened with a bottle of champagne and the name "City of Brunswick".