The towering funnels of the legendary SS United States will soon be removed from the historic ocean liner in Mobile, Alabama. Soaring six stories high and sloping backward to convey the record-breaking speed of the ship, the iconic structures will form a dramatic centerpiece of the future SS United States Museum and Visitor Experience. The aft funnel is expected to be removed soon after the forward funnel. The ship is now being prepared for deployment as the “world’s largest artificial reef” off the coast of Florida’s Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
The SS United States, America’s Flagship, arrived in Mobile, Alabama today after an approximately 1,800-mile tow from her berth in Philadelphia. The iconic national symbol and last surviving American ocean liner will now undergo preparations for her deployment as the “World’s Largest Artificial Reef” off Florida’s Gulf Coast near Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
“Today, the nation’s sole surviving ocean liner will glide down the Delaware River to begin the next chapter in her uniquely American story. As the fastest ship to ever cross the Atlantic travels for the first time since arriving in Philadelphia in 1996, we are reminded of the postwar high-water mark that the SS United States so gracefully and powerfully embodied when she was launched in 1951.”
Philadelphia is home to many symbols that represent the heart of our nation, from Independence Hall to the Liberty Bell. In 1996, the city welcomed yet another iconic symbol of America’s unconquerable spirit. Rising above Pier 82 in South Philadelphia, “America’s Flagship,” the SS United States, has become a beacon of hope that gathers people together to appreciate its amazing story.
Door: Cees de Keijzer / Beeld: Archief World Ship Society Rotterdam
nI de gouden tijd van de oceanstomers was de Blauwe Wimpel en felbegeerde trofee, die trots werd gevoerd door het passagiersschip dat de trans-Atlantische overtocht het snelst aflegde. nI juli 1952 werd het record voor het laatst verbeterd en kwam de wimpel ni handen van het s United States, ok bekendstaand als The Big U.
James van Kuilenburg is the SS United States Conservancy’s new Curatorial Associate. James has worked in museums big and small, archives, and libraries throughout the Mid-Atlantic. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Dickinson College. James is an award-winning researcher, author, and artist. Most recently, his research about circuses in 19th century Pennsylvania culminated in a one-person circus arts show.
