SS USA

I just visited the S.S. United States on our way through Mobile, and… you can see for yourself. She is sadly far from her prime, and had her last voyage from Philadelphia-Mobile has already taken place.. but nevertheless, I know William Francis Gibbs wouldn’t want to see her in the shape she is now. I just hope whatever inevitably befalls America’s Flagship will give her peace and well-deserved final resting place. Well.. I don’t know how to start, between all of the disputes, the untimely fate of America’s Grand Old Lady, etc., but one thing’s for certain, we will never forget, for as long as we are able to remember, the S.S. United States.

It's truly a site to see, & a remarkable story of American ingenuity at its finest hour! Based off her current condition... it could be in the people's best interest to see her sunk in order for her to continue serving a purpose as a LARGE artificial reef & a museum in another life! Who knows... maybe someday we'll see a new American Flagship take her place & sail people away on magnificent excursions worthy of historic attention!

We absolutely loved watching the SS United States being towed into Mobile Bay, Alabama. Currently (July 2025) it is moored in the bay, waiting it’s final fate. Efforts are being raised to save this once magnificent ship and even restore it to operable condition. If not, it will be sunk off the coast of Florida, to form an artificial reef. So sad 😞

The SS United States, once a majestic and record-breaking ocean liner, has arrived in Mobile, Alabama, in March 2025. This marks a significant step in its journey to becoming an artificial reef off the coast of Florida. We took some friends and went to see this amazing ship. It’s a “must see” for history lovers and ship enthusiasts. A Bittersweet Arrival: For maritime enthusiasts and those who remember the ship's glory days, its presence in Mobile is a poignant sight. The ship, longer than the Titanic and still holding the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing, is a powerful symbol of American engineering and maritime history. While its final destination is the seabed, its time in Mobile offers a unique opportunity to witness this iconic vessel. Awaiting its Underwater Fate: Docked at the Port of Mobile, the SS United States is undergoing preparations for its new role as an artificial reef. This includes cleaning and the creation of spaces to accommodate marine life. While these modifications are necessary for its future purpose, they also signify the end of its life as a ship. Viewing Opportunities: Currently, the best way to view the SS United States in Mobile is from the water. Local cruise operators, such as Perdido Queen Cruises, are offering special tours that provide an up-close look at the vessel and share its history. For land-based views, the ship's large smokestacks are visible from various points along the Mobile Riverfront. The Skyview Lounge atop the Holiday Inn Downtown Mobile also offers a unique vantage point. A New Chapter: While the sinking of such a historic ship might evoke sadness, its repurposing as an artificial reef is seen by many as a positive final chapter. It will create a new habitat for marine life and potentially become a diving attraction, ensuring its legacy continues in a different form. The SS United States' time in Mobile is a temporary but significant moment to reflect on its past and anticipate its future beneath the waves.

Fantastic historical ship. Though it's being ripped a part at the moment, I'm still hoping this ship will be saved

Historic Ocean liner still Holds speed record. Going to be largest man made reef. Will be sunk off Destin Florida

You can see it pretty good. We had to Google maps the best route to get to it. I would recommend a boat tour (charter) if you want to get a good close-up view of it.

Had to go see the US UNITED States before she becomes a reef. Got some great pictures with my drone :)

There are more billionaires today than ever. Would it be crazy if the US United States Conservatory approached people such as Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Jeff Bezos etc.? Here is a list of just ten individuals that are billionaires. Imagine if each contributed $10 million, a drop in the bucket for these people. How much restoration could be performed with 100 million? 1. Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX) - $361.5 billion 2. Jeff Bezos (Amazon) - $238.9 billion 3. Larry Ellison (Oracle) - $221.6 billion 4. Mark Zuckerberg (Meta/Facebook) - $177 billion 5. Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway) - $133 billion 6. Bill Gates (Microsoft) - $128 billion 7. Steve Ballmer (Microsoft) - $121 billion 8. Larry Page (Google) - $114 billion 9. Sergey Brin (Google) - $110 billion 10. Michael Bloomberg (Bloomberg LP) - $106 billion There are more billionaires, so keep asking them for help. As of December 2024, the United States is home to approximately 746 to 1,050 billionaires, depending on the methodology used by different sources. These individuals collectively hold a significant portion of global wealth. The variation arises from different criteria for counting billionaires, such as including residents or accounting for international assets. The U.S. remains the global leader in billionaires, hosting about one-third of the world's total, with New York City being the city with the most billionaires in the country. If just half of the billionaires contributed $1 million, the Conservatory could end up with $367 to $525 million. A million dollars for these individuals feels like giving $50 from us non-wealthy individuals. What are you waiting for Conservatory?

Once the flagship of post-war exuberance, the epitome of mid-century luxury and holder of numerous nautical speed records, the SS United States now floats as an unwanted derelict at pier 42 in Philadelphia. Waylaid by the jet age and even grander vessels, the 1,000 foot, 53,000 ton behemoth has been transported around the world for the past 40+ years waiting for a benefactor to restore her to former glory but the cost of rejuvenation is staggering, meaning the old girl will likely be scrapped as her interior has already been completely gutted. At this point even the most ambitious investors are daunted by the funding thresholds required to bring this rusting hulk back to life, making a rescue and renovation as a floating casino or high-end hotel highly improbable fantasies. In 1952 she was the very definition of grace, speed and opulence, in 2020 her memory has largely been expunged as just another grand dame that has simply outlived her fame and purpose. A grand and damn shame. Norma Desmond weeps.

The SS United States is the third American vessel of that name (1864, 1903), this one the first ocean liner build entirely stateside, the largest of the American breed and the fastest to cross the Atlantic Ocean between New York and England, beginning in 1952. Its 990 feet was only ten feet shorter than the Queen Mary that was its main competition for bragging rights in the maritime world. That rusting bucket at Pier 70 on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, was once the pride of our country, with people willingly paying a premium to book passage for the experience of a lifetime. One of its largest investors, the Department of Defense, saw it as a troop transport as it game planned World War III, although it was never used for that. Sadly, where the Queen has found a successful retirement in the Port of Long Beach, California, as a major tourist attraction with hotel, restaurants, boutiques and bicycle rental out front, the SSUS has bottomed out in its latest home for two decades unable to find the right combination of capital and brilliance to attain metamorphosis as an attractive destination. Several developers have tried and failed to move the project forward. One was sallow enough to sell off all the fixtures and furnishings just to pay the dockage fees. Finally, it was taken over by a non profit conservancy, with the mission of saving the ship, raising donations and ultimately finding a beneficial purpose. To date, very little has happened to improve its dire circumstance. How the mighty have fallen. What was the epitome of the "Can Do" Golden Age of the American Century, has become a different kind of symbol; much less grand, and more deeply pitiful. Where is that indomitable American spirit now? What would it take to bring this hulking giant back to life? Like a sleeping Buddha it rests with the murky Delaware lapping at its rusting hull.

My family and I drove all the way from the Midwest to see this ship because my brother loves this vessel, but everyone can take interest in it. There is a ton of rich history behind the ship seen in the pier. The ship is very cultural and it is a great learning opportunity for anyone. First, the cultural aspect of the ship. For this being something to do, there needs to be some flavor in what you're doing. While the ship is quite literally sitting there, there is so much more about it that you can discover. It's America's flagship and all states (exc. AK & HI) contributed to its construction. So, if you're sitting there looking at it, pull up information about it. My Rating for this Category: 5/5 Finally is the learning opportunity. They say that traveling is the best form of learning. Seeing this proves that saying again. Because the ship is historical, it's a fantastic opportunity to turn your stop there into an enriching history class that everyone can enjoy. My Rating for this Category: 5/5 We will be driving back out to Philadelphia to see the ship sometime in the near future. It's truly an American landmark that everyone should know about and see in their lifetime. I would recommend people see this ship if they are in Philadelphia in the future.

I lived in Philadelphia my whole life and this is just a waste of space. They are stealing your money trying to revitalize this vessel. It sits on the water and rocks back and forth

As we were traveling through Philadelphia we were heading into town and everyone in the car gasped when we saw this incredible ship. The first thing that came to mind in seeing this ship was that it looks similar to the Titanic, although there are obviously a ton of differences. That silly comment aside, this ship, it's history, and the efforts being made to preserve it is incredible. We made it a point to travel out of our way to get as close as we could to this ship so that we could take some amazing photos. This was a cool stop while on the road and I hope that eventually this ship can be completely restored.

To this day, America's Flagship still holds the record, the Blue Ribband, for the fastest transatlantic crossing. Because of the way she was engineered for possible use as a troop ship, she is still sound and, according to engineers, her hull is still at 95% integrity even though she has been out of service since 1969. She was built entirely in the USA and stood for American pride when she was built in 1952. She is definitely worthy of being saved from the scrap yard! For more information about the ship's history, famous passengers, or the efforts to save her, visit the website for the SS United States Conservancy.