There has been a substantial growth in the number of "peace ships" in the past century and, for the United States, the most important of them is the "Golden Rule." By boldly challenging nuclear weapons tests in 1958, the "Golden Rule" and its pacifist crew set the pattern for the daring voyages of Greenpeace and other activists who finally convinced officials of the great powers to negotiate a nuclear test ban treaty. Today, after being wrecked off the California coast, the "Golden Rule" is being lovingly restored by Veterans for Peace for a new mission designed to foster nuclear disarmament and world peace.