Bon Voyage, Big U 

Every time the SS United States prepared to sail, thousands of people gathered to wish their friends, family, and neighbors "bon voyage." There was excitement and joy, but also grief and sadness intertwined with many passengers' journeys. The SS United States enabled so many people to start a new chapter and end an old one -- taking a life-changing trip, studying abroad, or immigrating across the world.

The SS United States will soon enter a new chapter in her history as she is transformed into the "world's largest artificial reef," and the Conservancy honors and celebrates her legacy through our future museum and visitor experience.

Send a Postcard to the SS United States

Messages to Become Part of Conservancy Museum Collection

As we prepare to bid farewell to our beloved ship, we hope you will join us by sending us a postcard addressed directly to SS United States.

Did the ship bring your family to the U.S.?

Do you miss seeing the ship docked on Philadelphia’s Delaware River?

Did the Big U inspire you or change your life?

We would love to hear from you!

We invite you to send us a postcard of your choice or browse our online store HERE to purchase a reproduction postcard inspired by our favorite ocean liner. Proceeds from all sales benefit the Conservancy.

Our mailing address is:

SS United States Conservancy

720 ARCH STREET 

BOX 43 

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19105

A selection of your cards and messages are below. We will preserve your messages for future generations as part of our museum’s permanent curatorial collection. Thank you for being a part of the story of the SS United States.

Your Messages to the SS United States

 Participate in Our Tribute to the SS United States

Help Us Celebrate the Big U

The Conservancy leads the global effort to celebrate and commemorate the SS United States as an enduring symbol of American history and innovation. While the iconic ocean liner will soon be transformed into the world’s largest artificial reef, we will continue to tell her story - and the stories of the many lives she touched and enriched - in our future museum.

Later this summer, the Conservancy will broadcast a special video tribute to wish the SS United States “bon voyage” as she embarks on the next chapter in her history. It will feature songwriters and artists who have drawn inspiration from the Big U alongside new stories and reflections from former passengers and crew members and the ship’s admirers from around the world. We know this passage is evoking complex feelings, and we would love to hear your tributes to the ship and reflections on one or more of these questions:

What is your connection to the SS United States?

Why do you think the Big U should be remembered?

How would you say “bon voyage” to the SS United States – what do you wish to express to the ship as she begins her next chapter?

We would love for you to contribute to this historic commemoration!

Contribute a Video Message

Share a video with us. Your contribution may be featured in our video tribute and will join our oral history collection to commemorate this moment.

Record a short video (between 30 seconds to 2 minutes long). Introduce yourself with your name and share your "bon voyage" message to the SS United States. Email your video to info@ssusc.org. Recordings shared with us through the end of February may be used in our tribute to the SS United States, and all submissions will join our oral history collections.

These collections are a vital part of our exhibit development and curatorial work to help preserve the legacy of the Big U. Learn more about our oral history project here.

Share an Audio Message

Give us a call at (888) 488-7787, extension 1. Leave us a voicemail with your name and your “bon voyage” message to the SS United States. If you wish to be contacted about your participation in our tribute to the Big U, please share your email address in your voicemail.

Some of the messages received through the end of February will be used in our tribute to the SS United States, and all submissions will join our oral history collections.

Post on Social Media

On Facebook or Instagram, create a post to share your reflections and tribute to the SS United States and write #BonVoyageBigU at the end. Posts that include this hashtag are grouped together so that all responses can be seen easily.

We hope you will join us in marking this moment in the ship’s history. Stay tuned for more details about how to attend our digital tribute to the SS United States in the coming weeks.

If you haven’t already, subscribe to our free bi-weekly e-newsletter below, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date with the Conservancy.