United States Lines Publicity Photo. SS United States Conservancy Collection.

FOOD TASTES BETTER AT SEA:

Dining Aboard the SS United States

Dining on the SS United States was an experience that passengers never forgot. The elaborate menus distributed daily for each meal were saved by many families for decades as mementos of their trip. Many of these menus have now been donated to the SS United States Conservancy where they are an important part of our archive of artifacts from the ship.

As this exhibit details, the food served on the SS United States was, for many passengers, startlingly abundant after many years of food insecurity due to the Great Depression and rationing during World War II. The food was also international in scope, using ingredients that were new to many American and European travelers. This international flair was reflective of the post-war period where political developments and new technologies were beginning to connect people all over the world.

Our exhibit will cover the dining experience from “soup to nuts,” describing the kind of food offered, how the food was made and served, and the staff who made all this possible.

We hope you enjoy this delicious exhibit!!

NEXT: Take a Seat

Curator:

J. van Kuilenburg, Curatorial Associate, SS United States Conservancy

With support from:

Judith Axler & Hannah McGovern

SS United States Conservancy

Susan Gibbs, President, SS United States Conservancy

The SS United States Conservancy is deeply grateful to all of our supporters who made this exhibition possible.
We extend special thanks to all those who donated their beloved items to our collections.