Alaina Noland has joined the Conservancy as our Preservation and Outreach Intern. Alaina came to museum work as a second career after working professionally in the equine industry for over a decade. Her work in museums started as an educator and her path into museum ships happened completely by accident. Since then, she has fallen in love with museum ships because she believes “they are excellent platforms from which history, engineering, and art can be discussed with the public.”

Last year, SS United States enthusiast and Conservancy supporter John Mark contacted Kusy and commissioned the artist to create a model of America’s Flagship, the SS United States, at a more reasonable 3-foot scale. After taking delivery of the model, which was constructed using more than 16,000 toothpicks, John and Wayne recently connected in Philadelphia to repair minor shipping-related damage to the model, see its full-size inspiration, and present the model to the Conservancy.

Dr. Phillip Marion joined the Conservancy as the Administrative & Program Associate, having recently completed his Doctorate in Music Performance, Pedagogy, and Literature from James Madison University. He is a highly trained and acclaimed performer, having given concerts throughout the continental United States and Europe, and he placed highly in several international music competitions.

Today, Kendra and Perry remain hard at work, aiming to wrap up the revised version of their children’s book and make it available to family and friends in mid-October. They’re also exploring how to advance on a self-published, printed-on-demand version later this year.

Galileo TV recently unveiled a mini-documentary about the SS United States. The five-minute long piece features shipboard interviews with Conservancy President Susan Gibbs, plus an array of historic images and videos from the Conservancy’s curatorial collection.

The Snowflake Crystal Montage as it’s called, was made specifically for the SS United States. Commissioned for the Private Dining Room, the panel featured 17 individualized cut crystal stars (or snowflakes) set in perforated aluminum panels.

The SS United States was the fastest passenger liner in the world, crossing the Atlantic at the speed of a courier train. Its passengers included presidents, Salvador Dali, Walt Disney, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and many other celebrities.

Titled “Opulent Crossings: Post War Tourism, Advertising and Design,” the panel discussion will build upon the digital exhibition’s work to examine the pivotal role America’s Flagship played as a global ambassador for the country and its brands in the post-World War II economic boom and subsequent social movements of the 1960s.