The Story of the SS President Coolidge
From luxury liner to wartime troop transport, from tragic sinking to world-renowned dive site — this is the story that inspired the President Coolidge Museum Motel.
About the Museum Motel
The President Coolidge Museum Motel is a unique heritage accommodation in Luganville, Espiritu Santo, Santo, Vanuatu. Created by CEO Melten Manuake and PI-GROUP LTD, the motel serves as a living museum dedicated to preserving the memory of World War II on Santo.
Each of our four themed rooms — Captain's Cabin, Soldier's Rest, Wartime Bunker, and Underwater Room — is filled with authentic WWII artifacts and period-accurate designs that transport guests back to 1942.
Our vision extends beyond physical accommodation. Through cutting-edge underwater drone technology, we aim to allow every visitor — whether staying at the motel or aboard a cruise ship — to witness the SS President Coolidge shipwreck without getting wet. This digital museum platform brings that vision to life for a global audience.
Historical Timeline
1931
The Luxury Liner
The SS President Coolidge is launched as a luxury ocean liner by the Dollar Steamship Company. At 654 feet long and 21,936 gross tons, she is one of the largest and most luxurious ships of her era, featuring a swimming pool, barber shop, and ornate dining rooms.
1941
Conversion to War
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US Navy requisitions the SS President Coolidge and converts her into a troop transport vessel. Her luxury fittings are stripped, replaced with bunks capable of carrying over 5,000 soldiers across the Pacific Theatre.
Oct 1942
The Final Voyage
On October 26, 1942, the SS President Coolidge approaches Espiritu Santo carrying 5,340 troops of the 172nd Infantry Regiment. Unaware of a newly laid minefield protecting the harbour, she strikes two mines in the Segond Channel.
Oct 26, 1942
The Sinking
Captain Henry Nelson makes the critical decision to run the ship aground on a coral reef, allowing the orderly evacuation of nearly all aboard. Only two men are lost — Captain Elwood Euart, who re-enters the ship to rescue trapped soldiers, and fireman Robert Reid. The ship slides off the reef and sinks.
Present Day
A Living Memorial
Today, the SS President Coolidge rests on her port side at depths of 20 to 70 metres in the waters off Espiritu Santo, Santo, Vanuatu. She is one of the world's largest and most accessible wreck dives, attracting thousands of divers annually. The President Coolidge Museum Motel preserves this history for all visitors.
Key Facts
A PI-GROUP LTD Initiative
The President Coolidge Museum Motel is proudly developed and operated by PI-GROUP LTD, a diversified investment company based in Vanuatu with operations in property investment, construction, automotive, real estate, and agriculture. Under the leadership of CEO Melten Manuake, PI-GROUP is committed to preserving Vanuatu's wartime heritage while creating sustainable tourism opportunities.