Arizona was a record breaking British passenger liner that was the first of the Guion Line's Atlantic Greyhounds on the Liverpool-Queenstown-New York route.

"[2] Entering service in 1879, she was the prototype for Atlantic express liners until the Inman Line introduced its twin screw City of New York in 1889.

[3] Laid up in 1894 when Guion stopped sailings, Arizona was sold four years later and briefly employed in the Pacific until she was acquired by the US Government for service in the Spanish–American War.

[2] When Cunard rejected his proposal, Pearce offered his idea to the Guion line at a bargain price of £140,000 at a time when express liners typically cost £200,000.

[4] As completed, Arizona appeared similar to White Star's Germanic, the current holder of the Blue Riband, but with greater power.

A large dome-like aperture, with a skylight at the top, rose from the centre of the saloon, and was crossed by beams, supported by small pillars of polished wood, upon which were placed plants and flowers.

"[5] Shortly after her maiden voyage on 31 May 1879, Arizona won the eastbound record for a Sandy Hook-Queenstown run of seven days, eight hours, 11 minutes (15.96 knots).

[3] The company did not invest in new units and by 1894 when Guion stopped sailings, Arizona and her running mate, Alaska of 1881 were hopelessly outpaced by the latest twin-screw liners from Cunard, White Star and Inman.

[10] On 29 May 1888, she rescued the passengers and crew of the British barque Henry James, which had been wrecked on a reef off Palmyra Island on 16 April whilst on a voyage from Newcastle, New South Wales to San Francisco, California, United States.

USAT Arizona transported the following United States Volunteers (USV) and Regular Army units from Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii to Manila, Philippines as part of the 5th (US) Philippine Expeditionary Force in the Spanish–American War: On January 24, 1902, the ship transported part it the 22nd Infantry home to the States from the Philippine–American War and Moro Rebellion,[14] arriving in San Francisco on February 25.