The United States Maritime Service Training Station (USMSTS) was a complex of buildings constructed by the U.S. Maritine Commission as a venue for the U.S. Maritime Service to train volunteers to serve in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Between 1939 and 1950, the complex hosted over 25,000 trainees in all aspects of seamanship and for specialized roles aboard Merchant Marine vessels. World War II brought shifting jurisdictions over the USMSTS, along with an uptick in training activities at the Station and throughout the city of St. Petersburg.
After the USMSTS was decommissioned, the property was sold to the city of St. Petersburg. The complex was officially acquired by the University of South Florida in June of 1965, and classes began on September 5, 1965. Collections documenting the campus’ military history include the Donald Saxer/United States Maritime Service Training Station (USMSTS), Bayboro Harbor Collection and the Commander David S. Goddard U.S. Maritime Service Photograph Collection.
In 2024, USF St. Petersburg reinvigorated a relationship with the American Merchant Marine Veterans (AMMV). Captain Anthony “Dru” DiMattia, President of the AMMV, presented the USF Libraries Special Collections with an official “Battlin’ Pete” World War II Merchant Marine Service Patch, a 40th anniversary U.S. Merchant Marine Challenge Coin, and a copy of the lyrics to the U.S. Maritime Service song. These items will be preserved at the Nelson Pounter Memorial Library’s Special Collections department along with the rest of the USMSTS collections.
USF Libraries look forward to continuing to preserve the legacy of the United States Maritime Service Training Station and the story of the U.S. Maritime Service and Merchant Marine on the USF St. Petersburg campus.