A news team from PennLive was on hand at our crew reunion in September to interview attendees about what the SS United States means to them. You can now watch stories from five individuals -- Heinz Bayer, who emigrated from Germany aboard the SS United States; Joe Rota, a long-time crew hand; Harold Goldfarb, who once served as the ship's surgeon; and Susan Gibbs, granddaughter of the ship's designer, William Francis Gibbs, and the Conservancy's executive director.Click here to watch those interviews.
Nov 22, 2016 -- Penn Live: How 'America's flagship' ended up decaying outside of an Ikea
This excellent article by Julia Hatmaker delves into the rich history of the SS United States -- including William Francis Gibbs' legendarily obsessive fireproofing -- and projects what the future could hold for "the jewel of the American maritime experience."Hatmaker's piece includes gorgeous video reporting from our crew reunion in September. "It is not fair to say that this is just a ship," former passenger Heinz Bayer told her. "It is more than a ship. It is for people like me, a way into a new life ... and a new world. It becomes like a mother that takes you someplace where you're safe, and the SS United States had been my mother in regards to that."Click here to read the full piece.
Oct 8, 2016 -- Asbury Park Press: Shipping the Troops
In an article for the Asbury Park Press, the docents of the New Jersey Maritime Museum examine the crucial role ocean liners played as troop transports during wartime, and analyze the specifics of what would have been required to convert the SS United States to a troop ship."The first order of business in converting a cruise ship to a troop ship was to remove all furniture, art work, pianos, and any luxuries which had been provided for paying passengers. These would be stored somewhere until the need for the troop ship ended, and could be restored to passenger service again."Click here to read the article in full.