View source for SS United States

{{Short description|1951 ocean liner}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2016}}
{| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = StateLibQld 1 169487 United States (ship).jpg
| Ship caption = SS ''United States'' at sea in the 1950s
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship flag = {{Shipboxflag|United States|1960}}
| Ship name = ''United States''
| Ship country = United States
| Ship owner = *1952-1970: [[United States Lines]]
*1970-1980: [[United States Maritime Administration|US Maritime Administration]]
*1980-1992: Richard Hadley
*1992-1997: Marmara Marine
*1997-2003: Edward Cantor 
*2003-2011: [[Norwegian Cruise Line]]
*2011-2024: SS United States Conservancy
*2024-present: [[Okaloosa County, Florida]]
| Ship operator = United States Lines
| Ship registry = New York City
| Ship route = *1952: [[Transatlantic crossing|Transatlantic]]: New York – [[Le Havre]] – [[Southampton]] (also [[Bremerhaven]])
*1961: Cruises
| Ship ordered = 1949<ref name="Ujifusa" />
| Ship builder = [[Newport News Shipbuilding]] and Drydock Company<ref name="Ujifusa" />
| Ship original cost = $71.8 million (${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US-GDP|71800000|1951|{{Inflation-year|US-GDP}}|r=2}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation-fn|US-GDP}})
| Ship yard number = Hull 488<ref name="Cudahy">{{cite book |first=Brian J. |last=Cudahy |title=Around Manhattan Island and Other Tales of Maritime NY |publisher=[[Fordham University Press]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4RTxzui1OG4C&pg=PA51 |page=51 |date=1997 | access-date = 2012-04-23 |isbn=978-0-8232-1761-8}}</ref>
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = February 8, 1950
| Ship launched = June 23, 1951<ref name="nyt1951">{{cite news |last=Horne |first=George |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1951/06/24/95804326.html |title=Biggest US Liner 'Launched' in Dock; New Superliner After Being Christened Yesterday |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 24, 1951 | access-date = 2024-08-09 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| Ship completed = 
| Ship christened = June 23, 1951<ref name="nyt1951" />
| Ship maiden voyage = July 3, 1952
| Ship in service = 1952
| Ship out of service = November 14, 1969<ref name="nyt1969">{{cite news |last=Weinraub |first=Bernard |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1969/11/15/79436843.html |title=Liner ''United States'' Laid Up; Competition From Jets a Factor; The ''United States'' Cancels Voyages and Is Laid Up |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 15, 1969 | access-date = 2024-08-09 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|5373476}}
*[[Callsign]] KJEH 
*{{ICS|Kilo}}{{ICS|Juliet}}{{ICS|Echo}}{{ICS|Hotel}}
| Ship notes = 
| Ship nickname = * ''Big U''
| Ship status = Laid up in [[South Philadelphia]], to be turned into an [[artificial reef]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship type = [[Ocean liner]]
| Ship tonnage = {{GRT|53329}}, {{NRT|29475}}
| Ship displacement = *45,400 tons (designed)
*47,264 tons (maximum)
| Ship length = *{{cvt|990|ft|m|0}} (overall)
*{{cvt|940|ft|m|0}} (waterline)
| Ship beam = {{cvt|101.5|ft|m}} maximum
| Ship draft = *{{cvt|31|ft|3|in|m}} (design)
*{{cvt|32|ft|4|in|m}} (maximum)
| Ship height = {{cvt|175|ft|m}} (keel to funnel)<ref>{{cite web |title=SS ''United States'' Specifications |url=http://www.ss-united-states.com/spec06.html |website=ss-united-states.com |access-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419215736/http://www.ss-united-states.com/spec06.html }}</ref>
| Ship decks = 12<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|page=16}}
| Ship deck clearance = 
| Ship ramps = 
| Ship power = *{{cvt|240,000|shp|kW|lk=in}} (rated)
*{{cvt|247,785|shp|kW|lk=in}} (trials)
| Ship propulsion = *4 × [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation (1886)|Westinghouse]] double-reduction geared [[steam turbine]]s
*8 × [[Babcock & Wilcox]] Type-M boilers at  925 psi and {{cvt|975|F|C}}
*4 × shafts, 2-four blade [[propeller|props]], 2-five blade
| Ship speed = *{{cvt|30|kn|lk=in}} (service)
*{{cvt|38.32|kn}} (trials)
* {{cvt|43|kn}} (claimed)
| Ship capacity = 1,928 passengers
| Ship crew = 1,044 <ref name=":4" />{{Rp|page=16}}
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| embed = yes
| name = SS ''United States'' (Steamship)
| nrhp_type = 
| image = 
| caption = 
| location = Pier 82, [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania
| coordinates = {{coord|39|55|06|N|75|08|11|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Philadelphia#Pennsylvania#USA
| map_width = 300
| area = 
| architect = [[William Francis Gibbs]]
| architecture = 
| added = June 3, 1999
| refnum = 99000609<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
}}
|}

'''SS ''United States''''' is a retired American [[ocean liner]] that was built during 1950 and 1951 for [[United States Lines]]. She is the largest ocean liner to be [[List of passenger ships built in the United States|entirely constructed in the United States]] and the fastest ocean liner to cross the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in either direction, retaining the [[Blue Riband]] for the highest average speed since her maiden voyage in 1952, a title she still holds.

The ship was designed by American [[naval architect]] [[William Francis Gibbs]] and could have been converted into a [[troopship]] if required by the [[United States Navy]] in time of war. The ship served as an icon for the nation, transporting celebrities and immigrants throughout her career between 1952 and 1969. Her design included innovations in steam propulsion, hull form, fire safety, and damage control. Despite her record speed, passenger counts declined in the mid-1960s due to the rise in [[Jet aircraft|jet-propelled]] [[Transatlantic flight|trans-Atlantic flights]].

Following the financial collapse of United States Lines, ''United States'' was withdrawn from service in a surprise announcement in 1969. All planned cruises were canceled, and the ship changed owners repeatedly for the next several decades. Every owner attempted to make the ship profitable, but she was aging and poorly maintained. In 1984, her interior furnishings were sold at auction, and the rest of her interiors were stripped to the bulkheads in 1994. In 1996, she was towed to [[Philadelphia]], where she has remained.

Since 2009, the 'SS ''United States'' Conservancy' has been raising funds in an attempt to save the ship from being scrapped. The group purchased her in 2011 and has created several unrealized plans to restore the ship. Due to a rent dispute, in 2024, the ship was evicted from her pier. Because no other locations for the ship could be found, [[Okaloosa County, Florida]], bought her and plans to sink her by 2026 near [[Destin, Florida|Destin]] to become the world's largest [[artificial reef]].

== Development ==

=== William Gibbs ===
SS ''United States'' was designed by [[William Francis Gibbs|William Gibbs]]. When Gibbs was eight years old in 1894, he watched the launching of [[SS St. Louis (1894)|SS ''St. Louis'']] and became enamored with ships and dreamed of a massive, grand American ship to trump all others.<ref name="Ujifusa">{{cite book |last=Ujifusa |first=Steven|author-link=Steven Ujifusa |title=A Man and his Ship |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-4516-4507-1 |location=New York |page=}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=17, 18}}

As an adult, Gibbs' first project was to lead the redesign and reconstruction of the ocean liner ''[[SS Vaterland (1913)|Leviathan]]'', the largest ship in the world and an American war prize following [[World War I]]. Once complete, his skill was appreciated by the government, media, and other architects; groups such as the ''[[Pacific Marine Review]]'' referred to him as "America's foremost naval architect".<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|pages=84-85}}<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last1=Pacific American Steamship Association |url=https://archive.org/details/pacificmarinerev2326paci/page/n7/mode/2up?q=transport |title=Pacific marine review |last2=Shipowners Association of the Pacific Coast |publisher=San Francisco, Calif. : J.S. Hines |others=San Francisco Public Library}}</ref>{{Rp|page=160}}

The first ship purely of Gibb's design was [[SS Malolo|SS ''Malolo'']], a luxury liner for the [[Pacific Ocean]]. During her sea trials, the ship was struck [[Amidships|amidship]] by a [[Freighter (cargo ship)|freighter]], ripping a massive hole into ''Malolo''{{'s}} engine room. The damage was so severe the former Chief of US Navy Construction and Gibb's mentor [[David W. Taylor|David Taylor]] thought the ship would immediately sink, much like the RMS ''[[RMS Empress of Ireland|Empress of Ireland]]'' did in similar circumstances. The ship stayed afloat with little damage and few casualties; this success was credited to Gibb's meticulous designs, further increasing his fame.<ref name=":12" />{{Rp|page=200}}<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|pages=118-123, 202}}

Gibbs' work put him in contact with American officials, to whom he pitched his idea for a massive, American-flagged liner. By 1936, the US government was planning to replace the aging ''Leviathan'' so a new vessel could operate as a passenger liner during peacetime and as a troop transport during war. Although not the massive ocean liner Gibbs had envisioned, he was selected to design the new ship, which became the [[SS America (1939)|SS ''America'']].<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|pages=85-86, 169}}

At the end of the Second World War, Gibbs and his company had designed more than 70% of all American ships used during the conflict, and Gibbs was at the height of his career. He believed it was time to realize his vision of an American [[Superliner (passenger ship)|superliner]].<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|page=202}}

==Design==

=== Military application ===
[[File:William Francis Gibbs.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|William Francis Gibbs, whose lifelong goal was the design of what became the ''United States'']]

During the [[Second World War]], many ocean liners, including ''[[SS Normandie|Normandie]]'' and ''[[RMS Queen Mary|Queen Mary]]'', were seized or requisitioned by governments and used to transport soldiers between fronts. In 1945, the [[US Maritime Commission]] requested designs for a ship that could handle that role for future conflicts. Gibbs submitted a design of his decades-old vision, which eventually won the contract.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|page=186, 203}}

The most-promising use of the liner in war would have been as a [[Troopship|troop transport]]. If [[Mobilization|mobilized]], onboard furnishings could easily be removed to make room for a 14,400-man [[US Army]] division. The ship's size and speed meant she could rapidly deploy a division anywhere in the world without needing to refuel.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|page=12}}<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|page=215}}

=== Propulsion ===

The ship's power plant was developed in unusual cooperation with the Navy, leading to a militarized design. The ship never used US Navy equipment; the designers opted for civilian variants of military models. The engine room arrangement was similar to that of large warships such as the [[Forrestal-class aircraft carrier|''Forrestal''-class aircraft carriers]], with isolated engineering spaces, and redundancies and backups in onboard systems.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|pages=129, 141}}

In normal service, the ship could theoretically generate {{convert|310000|lb}} of steam per hour, at {{convert|925|psi|MPa}}  and {{convert|975|F|C}}, using eight US Navy-type [[Water-tube boiler#M-type boilers|M-type]] boilers; however, they were operated at 54% of their capacity. The boilers were divided among two engine rooms, four in each. [[Babcock & Wilcox]] designed the ship's boilers and manufactured those in the forward engine room; the other boilers were made by [[Foster Wheeler]] and were located aft.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|pages=129, 132}}

[[File:Colorful SS United States.jpg|thumb|left|Painting of SS ''United States'' during her sea trials]]

Steam from the boilers turned four [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation|Westinghouse]] [[Double reduction gearing|double-reduction]] [[Steam turbine|geared turbines]], each one connected to a [[drive shaft]]. Each turbine could generate approximately 60,000 [[shaft horsepower]] (shp), or 240,000 shp total. If at [[flank speed]], initial designs estimated 266,800 shp from {{convert|1100|F|C}} steam at {{convert|1145|psi|MPa}} could be generated.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|pages=17, 134}}

The turbines turned four shafts, each of which rotated a propeller {{convert|18|ft|m|abbr=off}} in diameter. Owing to the designers' previous military experience, each propeller was made to efficiently rotate in either direction, allowing the ship to efficiently move forward or backwards, and to limit [[cavitation]] and vibrations. The two inboard propellers were five-bladed—a key secret of the design—and the outboard two had four. This aspect was one of the concepts that allowed the ship to achieve high speeds.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|pages=138–139}}

==== Speed ====
The maximum speed attained by ''United States'' is disputed and was once held as a military secret,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wOfaAgAAQBAJ&q=SS+United+States+speed+secret&pg=PA72 |title=Aluminum Dreams: The Making of Light Modernity |author=Mimi Sheller |date=2014 |publisher=MIT Press |page=72 |isbn=978-0-262-02682-6}}</ref> and complicated by the alleged leak of a top speed of {{cvt|43|kn|km/h}} the ship attained after her first speed trial.<ref>{{cite journal |title=How fast did it go |journal=Nautilus |publisher=University of Michigan Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department |volume=25 |page=8}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' reported in 1968 the ship could make {{cvt|42|kn|km/h}} at a maximum power output of {{cvt|240000|hp}}.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Horne|first1=George|title=Secrets of the Liner United States|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/08/16/90668695.html?pageNumber=35|access-date=16 February 2023|work=The New York Times|date=16 August 1968|page=35|url-access=subscription|quote=The decision to unclassify the superior military qualities of the big ship revealed, among other things, that her propulsion plants developed 240,000 horsepower – nearly 100,000 horses more than the world's biggest liners – and that she could make 42 knots, or better than 48 land-miles an hour.}}</ref> Other sources, including a paper by [[John J. McMullen & Associates]], placed the ship's highest-possible sustained speed at {{cvt|35|kn|km/h}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ccdott.org/hss_volume2/05_high_speed_hulls_&_propulsors.pdf |title=Hull Form and Propulsor Technology for High Speed Sealift |editor-last=McKesson |editor-first=Chris B. |date=February 13, 1998 |publisher=John J. McMullen Associates, Inc |pages=13–14 |access-date=2009-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051213084350/http://www.ccdott.org/hss_volume2/05_high_speed_hulls_%26_propulsors.pdf |archive-date=December 13, 2005 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The liner's top achieved speed was later revealed to be {{cvt|38.32|kn|km/h}}, which she achieved during a full-power trial run on June 10, 1952.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kane |first=John R. |date=1978-04-01 |title=The Speed of the SS United States |url=https://onepetro.org/MTSN/article/15/02/119/176570/The-Speed-of-the-SS-United-States |journal=Marine Technology and SNAME News |language=en |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=119–143 |doi=10.5957/mt1.1978.15.2.119 |issn=0025-3316}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Braynard |first1=Frank |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h3OlfC6LtrkC&pg=PA61 |title=S.S. United States |last2=Westover |first2=Robert Hudson |date=2002 |publisher=Turner Publishing Company |isbn=978-1-56311-824-1 |page=61}}</ref>

===Interior design===
[[File:Steamship Morro Castle Burned out hulk.jpg|thumb|The burned wreck of ''[[SS Morro Castle (1930)|Morro Castle]]'', whose loss influenced strict fire safety on ''United States'']]

[[Dorothy Marckwald]] and Anne Urquhart, who also designed the interiors for ''America'', designed the interiors for ''United States''. Their goal was to "create a modern fresh contemporary look that emphasized simplicity over palatial, [with] restrained elegance over glitz and glitter".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The great lady ship decorators {{!}} S.S. American, S.S. United States sailing on the 'All American' team to Europe |url=http://united-states-lines.org/interior-designpictures-2/ |access-date=2021-05-06|website=united-states-lines.org |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506025827/http://united-states-lines.org/interior-designpictures-2/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=S.S. United States |url=https://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF038383/00001/thumbs |access-date=2021-05-15 |website=digital.wolfsonian.org |language=en}}</ref> Marckwald and Urquhart also wanted to replicate the smooth lines seen on the exterior and to visualize the ship's speed.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|page=93}}

To achieve the aesthetic, the liner was furnished with [[mid-century modern]] decor that was amplified by plentiful use of black [[linoleum]] [[Deck (ship)|decking]] and the silver lining of edges. While visually unique compared to her competition, the simplicity of decorations compared to the expected grandeur of ocean liners saw the interiors described by those accustomed to the older style as what would be found on a "navy transport".<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|page=93}}

Interior décor included a children's playroom that was designed by [[Edward Meshekoff]],<ref name="Dunlap">{{cite news |last1=Dunlap |first1=David |date=9 March 2016 |title=Beloved Anachronisms, Times Square Mosaics of the City May Be Preserved |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/10/nyregion/beloved-anachronisms-times-square-mosaics-of-the-city-may-be-preserved.html |access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref> who was also tasked with creating interiors that were completely fireproof. This caused an exceptional difficulty when selecting materials, such as those for usually flammable items such as drapes or carpet.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|page=93}}

==== Fire safety ====
As a result of maritime disasters involving fire, including {{SS|Morro Castle|1930|6}} and {{SS|Normandie}}, William Gibbs specified the ship must be fully fireproof, which further compounded his history with safety and attention to detail.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ssusc.org/history-design-launch|title=History: Design & Launch – SS ''United States'' Conservancy}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite book |author=Steven Ujifusa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H6KB4q7M938C&q=SS+United+States+Charles+Gilbert&pg=PA252 |title=A Man and His Ship: America's Greatest Naval Architect and His Quest to Build the S.S. United States |date=2013 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-4516-4509-5 |page=252}}</ref>

To minimize the risk of flames, the designers of ''United States'' proscribed the use of wood in the ship, aside from the [[Galley (kitchen)|galley]]'s wooden butcher's block. Fittings, including furniture and fabrics, were custom made in glass, metal, and [[Glass fiber|fiberglass]] to ensure compliance with the US Navy's fireproofing guidelines. Asbestos-laden paneling was extensively used in interior structures and many small items were made of aluminum. The ballroom's grand piano was originally designed to be aluminum but was made from [[mahogany]] and accepted only after a demonstration in which gasoline was poured upon the wood and ignited, without the wood catching fire.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ssusc.org/news/steinway-baby-grand-piano-from-americas-flagship-now-on-public-display |title=Steinway Baby Grand Piano from America's Flagship Now on Public Display |website=SS United States Conservancy|date=January 29, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/ss-united-states-saved-perhaps-to-sail-once-more|title=SS United States Saved, Perhaps to Sail Once More|website=The Maritime Executive}}</ref>

==== Art ====
To create the onboard art, the artists [[Hildreth Meière]] and [[Austin Purves Jr.|Austin Purves]] consulted Marckwald. The artists' goals was to give the ship a unique character that was detached from any single [[Style (visual arts)|art style]]. Because the ship was going to serve as a floating icon of the US, it was decided her character would reflect the country. This was achieved by theming spaces around an aspect of the United States, such as the [[Mississippi River]], [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], or American fauna.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ocean Liners: S.S. United States: Cabin class lounge wall map – International Hildreth Meière Association Inc. |url=https://www.hildrethmeiere.org/commissions/ss-united-states |access-date=2021-05-06 |website=www.hildrethmeiere.org |language=en}}</ref>

The liner was decorated with hundreds of unique art pieces, including sculptures, relief murals, and paintings. Aluminum was commonly incorporated into the artworks, allowing pieces to be light and fireproof, and to match the black-and-silver theme. For instance, nearly 200 aluminum sculptures were used in the first-class stairway, with a large [[Bald eagle#National bird of the United States|eagle]] and each state's [[List of U.S. state birds|bird]] and [[List of U.S. state and territory flowers|flower]] emblems on the landing of each deck.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|page=93}}

=== Funnels and superstructure ===

The primary purpose of a ship's [[Funnel (ship)|funnels]] is to [[Ventilation (architecture)|ventilate]] the vessel's [[engine room]]s, allowing exhaust to escape. Gibbs believed funnels also create a unique and iconic character for the ship and her owners. To create an unforgettable silhouette, Gibbs had the liner topped with two massive, [[Flag of the United States#colors|red-white-and-blue]], tear-drop-shaped funnels located midship. Standing at {{Convert|55|ft|m}} tall and {{Convert|60|ft|m}} wide, they were the largest funnels ever put to sea.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|pages=246–248}}

[[File:1951_SS_United_States_Travel_Poster_by_Lester_Thomas_Beall_(1).jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|The ship's funnels became an icon due to their unique color, shape, and size (promotional poster pictured)]]

The funnel design was a pinnacle of Gibb's experience from designing the ''[[SS Leviathan|Leviathan]]'', ''[[SS America (1939)|America]]'', and ''Santa''-class liners. To prevent soot from coating the deck and passengers, horizontal fins on each side of the funnels deflected funnel exhaust away from the ship. During the retrofit of the ''Leviathan'' decades earlier, it was discovered her tall funnels compromised the vessel's stability. To avoid this issue on ''United States'', Gibbs decided the funnels and the superstructure would made out of lightweight aluminum to prevent the ship from becoming top-heavy and at risk of capsizing. At the time, ''United States'' was the world's largest aluminum construction project and the first major application of aluminum on a ship.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|pages=246–248}}

The main disadvantage in making the funnels and superstructure out of aluminum was that it was the metal's difficulty to mold and handle compared to more conventional metals, making the funnels' fabrication the most complex part of the ship's construction. Special care was needed to prevent [[galvanic corrosion]] of the aluminum when it was welded to the steel decking. The laborious process antagonized shipyard workers but no problems arose during construction and it continued as planned.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|pages=246–248}}

=== Class system ===
Gibbs' design incorporated a conventional, three-tiered class system for passengers, replicating those found on other classical ocean liners. Each class was segregated, having its own dining rooms, bars, public spaces, services, and recreation areas. Gibbs envisioned having passengers enforce the separation, only intermingling in the gymnasium, swimming pool, and [[Theater (structure)|theater]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Rindfleisch |first=James |title=SS United States: An Operational Guide to America's Flagship |publisher=Schiffer |isbn=978-0-7643-6655-0 |location=[[Atglen, Pennsylvania]] |date=2023 |pages=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=70}} The stark and physical class separations, an idea associated with the Old World, contrasted with the overall American theme of the ocean liner; the United States was often seen as a [[Socioeconomic mobility in the United States|nation that was removed from]] the [[old money]] and class segregation of the Old World.<ref name=":5" />

At maximum capacity, ''United States'' could have carried 894 first, 524 cabin, and 554 tourist-class passengers.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|page=16}} During a standard season, the cost of a first-class ticket would start at $350 (${{Inflation|index=US|value=350|start_year=1954|fmt=c}} in 2024), a cabin ticket $220 (${{Inflation|index=US|value=220|start_year=1954|fmt=c}}), and a tourist ticket $165 (${{Inflation|index=US|value=165|start_year=1954|fmt=c}}).<ref name=":10">{{Cite book |last=Maxtone-Graham |first=John |url= |title=SS United States: Red, White & Blue Ribband, Forever |date=2014 |publisher=New York : W. W. Norton & Company |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-393-24170-9 |page=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=138}}

==== First class ====
{{External media|title=Tour of first-class spaces in current status|video1=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYRofcGzi2w|video2=}}

First-class passengers were entitled to the best services and locations the ship had to offer, including the grand ballroom, the smoking room, first-class dining room and restaurants, observation lounge, main foyer, grand staircase, and promenades. Most of these facilities were located midship, distant from the vibrations and distractions of the engines and the outside.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|pages=59, 64}}

The liner's famous passengers favored first class due to its prestige, priority service, and spacious cabins. The Duck Suite, which was popularized by the [[Edward VIII|Duke]] and [[Wallis Simpson|Duchess of Windsor]], was the ship's best-known stateroom. It was created by combining three first-class staterooms into a single suite containing four beds, three bathrooms, two bedrooms, and a living room. The name came from the walls, which were decorated with paintings of [[waterfowl]]. Up to 14 similar suites could be created in a similar way, establishing a level of stateroom above that of a standard first-class ticket.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|pages=59, 64}} Tickets for the two-bedroom suites started at $930 (${{Inflation|index=US|value=930|start_year=1954|fmt=c}}); these were aimed at the wealthiest passengers on board. Much like the Duck Suite, these rooms reflected a post-war American standard of living, lacking in intricate details and adorned with natural scenes. All suites were spacious and equipped with dimmed lights, which were not seen on any other vessels.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|page=262}}

==== Cabin class ====
Cabin class was aimed toward the American [[middle class]]es, striking a key balance between the affordability of tourist and the elegance of first class. Each cabin had four beds and a private bathroom, and were located primarily aft. While inferior to first class, passengers received service and had access to amenities that were historically reserved for the highest class on other ocean liners.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|pages=66–67}}The food, pool, and theater were shared with first-class passengers, making cabin class ideal for those who wanted the first-class experience without paying first-class rates.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2022-03-08 |title=A Three Class Ship – United States Lines & The Heydays of Trans-Atlantic Travel |url=https://united-states-lines.org/a-three-class-ship/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=united-states-lines.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Tourist class ====
Tourist class was aimed at those who were unable or unwilling to spend much on a ticket; it was often booked by migrants and students.<ref name=":5" /> Cheapest of all tickets, tourist-class cabins were located at the peripheries of the ship, where rocking and noise were most pronounced. These small cabins were shared among passengers, each room containing two bunk beds and simply furnished with little detail. Communal bathrooms were shared with all tourist-class passengers in the same passage. Service from the crew was lacking compared to the other classes, as tourist-class passengers received the lowest priority. While equivalent to the [[steerage]] or third-class on other vessels, these poorest conditions on ''United States'' were noticeably better than what was offered on other vessels.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|pages=68, 70}}

=== Gallery of passenger spaces ===
<gallery>
File:S.S. United States. LOC gsc.5a21870.jpg|alt=An onboard stairway, with an aluminum sculpture of the Great Seal of the United States on each landing.: 93|An onboard stairway, with an aluminum sculpture of the [[Great Seal of the United States]] on each landing.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|page=93}}
File:S.S. United States. LOC gsc.5a21871.jpg|alt=The grand ballroom, containing the piano and a dance floor. The space was reserved for first-class passengers.: 60|The [[Ballroom|grand ballroom]], containing the piano and a dance floor. The space was reserved for first-class passengers.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|page=60}}
File:S.S. United States. LOC gsc.5a21882.jpg|A passenger hallway whose lack of decoration was described as having decor compared to that of a [[warship]].
File:S.S. United States. LOC gsc.5a21872.jpg|A [[Stairs#Other terms|landing]] showing the ship's motif of black [[linoleum]] flooring and silver lining.
File:S.S. United States. LOC gsc.5a21874.jpg|The Cabin-class lounge with [[Hildreth Meiere|Hildreth Meière]]'s mural ''Mississippi'' in the background.
File:S.S. United States. LOC gsc.5a21876.tif|First-class cabin U 141, showing [[mid-century modern]] furnishings and the lack of detail common throughout the ship. Not shown is the cabin's private bath.<ref>{{Cite book |title=S.S. United States Miniature Deck Plan |publisher=United States Lines}}</ref>
</gallery>

== Construction ==
{{Main article|Revolt of the Admirals#Cancellation of USS United States}}
[[File:The keel plate of USS United States (CVA-58) being laid in a construction dry dock on 18 April 1948.jpg|thumb|Keel of [[USS United States (CVA-58)|USS ''United States'' (CVA-58)]] at [[Newport News Shipbuilding|Newport News]] Shipbuilding, which was dismantled to allow for construction of the ocean liner]]

Following the end of the Second World War, the newly formed [[US Department of Defense]] was divided about its policy in the nuclear age. There was controversy around the supercarrier [[USS United States (CVA-58)|USS ''United States'' (CVA-58)]], which was canceled after her keel was laid. The shipyard, looking for a project to fill the void left by the Navy, agreed to dismantle the aircraft carrier and build an ocean liner with, coincidentally, the same name, in the same [[dry dock]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ujifusa |first=Steven |title=A Man and His Ship: America's Greatest Naval Architect and His Quest to Build the S.S. United States |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-4516-4509-5 |pages=232-235, 240-241}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=H-0178-1 The Revolt of the Admirals |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-078/h-078-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301112434/https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-078/h-078-1.html |archive-date=March 1, 2024 |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Naval History and Heritage Command |language=en-US}}</ref> allowing her [[keel]] to be laid on 8 February, 1950. The circumstance saw ''United States'' become the first ocean liner to be built in a dry dock, accelerating her construction because parts of the ship could be [[Prefabrication|prefabricated]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Dempewolff |first=Richard F. |date=June 1952 |title=America Bids for the Atlantic Blue Ribbon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XNwDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA81 |journal=[[Popular Mechanics]] |pages=81–87, 252, 254 |issn=0032-4558 |access-date=2012-09-22}}</ref><ref name=":10" />{{Rp|page=100}}

Another major issue facing the Navy was its reduction of transport capabilities following the war. After the [[Battle of Inchon|Inchon Landings]] during the [[Korean War]], the Department of Defense realized it lacked troop-transport capacity and requisitioned the one-third-completed ''United States'' to quickly and cheaply fill part of the deficit. Under Navy control, stateroom bathrooms were to be stripped and large spaces divided to make room for gun mounts, [[wardroom]]s, more lifeboats, and equipment required to support the enlarged passenger count.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|page=240}}

''United States'' was requisitioned under [[Secretary of Defense]] [[Louis A. Johnson|Louis Johnson]], who believed it was cheaper and easier to convert an existing vessel than to build a new one. Days after the announcement was made, the secretary was relieved and replaced by [[George C. Marshall|George Marshall]]. After meeting with the chairman of the [[United States Maritime Administration|Maritime Administration]], Marshall believes converting ''United States'' would take too long to be of any use during the Korean War. A month after her requisitioning was announced, the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] reversed the decision and returned the ship to previously scheduled civilian work.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|page=241}}

''United States'' was [[Baptism#Boats and ships|christened]] and [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 23 June, 1951.<ref name=":10" />{{Rp|page=100}} Her construction was a joint effort by the [[United States Navy]] and [[United States Lines]] (USL), and was broken into two parts. The cost of construction was split; USL contributed $25&nbsp;million and the US government $20&nbsp;million. The government also paid another $25&nbsp;million for the incorporation of "national defense features" into her design, which brought her cost to $71.08&nbsp;million, even though the ship itself cost only $44.4&nbsp;million.<ref name="Ujifusa" /> {{Rp|page=227}}

==History==
===Commercial service (1952–1957)===

==== Maiden voyage ====

''United States'' made her maiden voyage from July 3 to 7, 1952, and broke the eastbound-transatlantic speed record that had been was by {{RMS|Queen Mary}} for the previous 14 years by more than 10 hours, making the crossing from the [[Lightship Ambrose|Ambrose lightship]] at [[New York Harbor]] to [[Bishop Rock]] off [[Cornwall]], UK, in three days, ten hours, and 40 minutes at an average speed of {{cvt|35.59|kn}},<ref>{{cite web |last=Driscoll |first=Larry |title=The Race for the Blue Riband |url=http://united-states-lines.org:80/luxury%20liner%20row.htm |date=2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530224727/http://united-states-lines.org/luxury%20liner%20row.htm |archive-date=May 30, 2009 |access-date=March 3, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> winning the coveted [[Blue Riband]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&userGroupName=livlibtda&tabID=T003&docPage=article&searchType=BasicSearchForm&docId=CS101928680&type=multipage&contentSet=LTO&version=1.0 |title=Atlantic Riband for America |work=The Times |location=London |date=8 July 1952 |page=6 |issn=0140-0460 |via=The Times Digital Archive |access-date=27 April 2017}}</ref> On her return voyage ''United States'' also broke the westbound-transatlantic speed record, which was also held by ''Queen Mary'', by returning to America in three days, twelve hours, and twelve minutes at an average speed of {{cvt|34.51|kn}}. In New York City, her owners were awarded the [[Hales Trophy]], the tangible expression of the Blue Riband competition.<ref>{{cite book |last=NY Times |title=Ship speed trophy is presented here |date=13 November 1952}}</ref>

[[File:SS United States on maiden voyage from Southampton.jpg|thumb|left|''United States'' photographed from [[Portsmouth]] during her return maiden voyage to New York, summer 1952]]

The ship's return to the United States was marked with celebration as she was escorted into New York City by bands, helicopters, and small boats, and was met by a crowd of thousands. As a public symbol of the Blue Ribband, a long, blue flag was flown from her [[radar mast]] as she approached. Many people noticed her fresh hull paint had worn off, apparently due to the high speeds at which she traveled.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |date=16 July 1952 |title=Port Hails the United States as New Speed Queen |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1952/07/16/issue.html |work=[[New York Times]] |pages=1, 6}}</ref> Her crew was officially welcomed to the city several days later with a [[Ticker-tape parade]], escorted by more than 2,000 people and greeted by a crowd of 150,000. The centerpiece of the event was the liner's captain, [[Harry Manning|Commodore Harry Manning]], who is one of the few people to receive a Ticker-tape parade twice after his 1929 rescue of crewmembers from the [[cargo ship]] ''Florida''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=MANNING AND CREW GET RAINY GREETING; Real Shower Adds to Ticker Tape Kind in City Welcome to the Superliner's Men 5 CADETS WILT IN HEAT 150,000 Pay Tribute as Mayor Bestows Honor Medal on the United States' Skipper |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1952/07/19/84335108.html?pageNumber=17 |access-date=2024-11-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The record was not a reflection of the ship's actual operational speed. Prior to her voyage, many expected a race between ''United States'' and the British vessel ''[[RMS Queen Elizabeth|Queen Elizabeth]]'' for national pride over the Blue Riband. In 1951, Gibbs instructed the crew to "[not] beat the record by very much. Beat it by a reasonable amount, such as 32 knots." He hoped [[Cunard Line]], which operated ''Queen Elizabeth'', would then develop a slightly faster ship and ''United States'' would then break the intentionally low record, sailing at a much higher speed.<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last=Driscoll |first=Larry |date=Summer 2011 |title=SS United States: The Last Speed Queen of the Merchant Marine |journal=PowerShips}}</ref>

''United States''{{'}} record-breaking speed was also held back by safety concerns. The line understood the crew was still inexperienced with the new ship, and ordered them to not take unnecessary risks with extravagant speeds. The memory of the [[Sinking of Titanic|sinking of RMS ''Titanic'']] influenced USL's caution, an issue personal to several of its leaders. CEO John Franklin was son of [[White Star Line|White Star Line's]] office manager [[Philip Albright Small Franklin|Philip Franklin]] during the ''Titanic'' disaster, and the company director [[Vincent Astor]] lost his father [[John Jacob Astor IV#Titanic|John Jacob Astor]] on that ship. Franklin was so concerned about a potential accident he had written and sealed a message that was only to be made public if there was a disaster during ''United States''{{'}} maiden voyage.<ref name=":8" /> For her regular service, the ship operated at her operational speed of about {{convert|30|to|32|knots|abbr=out}} so the ship could maintain a schedule of five-night crossings.<ref name=":9" />

==== Later service ====
During the 1950s and early 1960s, ''United States'' was popular for transatlantic travel, sailing between New York, [[Southampton]], and [[Le Havre]], with an occasional additional [[Port of call (nautical term)|call]] at [[Bremerhaven]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Miller |first1=William H. |title=SS United States: Ship of Power, Might, and Indecision |date=2022 |publisher=Fonthill |location=Stroud |isbn=978-1-62545-115-6 |page=159 (online) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d0BpEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT59}}</ref> She attracted frequent, repeat, celebrity passengers such as [[Marilyn Monroe]], [[Judy Garland]], [[Cary Grant]], [[Salvador Dalí]], [[Duke Ellington]], and [[Walt Disney]], who featured the ship in the 1962 film ''[[Bon Voyage! (1962 film)|Bon Voyage!]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Tennessean |url=https://www.tennessean.com/restricted/?return=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2021/07/23/ss-united-states-now-docked-pennsylvania-needs-help/7969767002/ |access-date=2022-09-08 |website=www.tennessean.com}}</ref> An unrecognized celebrity on the ship was [[Claude Jones]], a trombonist who had performed with Ellington; he worked as part of the waitstaff and died on board in 1962.<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book |title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]] |date=1992 |publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]] |isbn=0-85112-939-0 |editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]] |edition=First |page=xx}}</ref>

''United States'' proved exceedingly successful and was the most-popular liner in the North Atlantic, and her fame provided her with a reliable clientele. United States Lines (USL) began drafting plans to crate a "running mate" for the ship. Much as did [[Cunard Line|Cunard Line]] with its liners ''Queen Mary'' and ''Queen Elizabeth'', the idea was to operate two liners in tandem with each other. In 1958, this idea evolved into a plant to build the SS ''President Washington'', a superliner with a very similar design to ''United States''. ''President Washington'' was planned to replace the aging USL liner ''[[SS America (1939)|America]]'', and was to operate on the [[West Coast of the United States|American West Coast]] and sail the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]]. The idea was never realized because the [[United States Congress|US Congress]] did not allocate any funds to the project.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=William H. |url=http://archive.org/details/ssunitedstatesst0000mill |title=SS United States: the story of America's greatest ocean liner |date=1991 |publisher=New York : W.W. Norton |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-393-03030-3}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=169–170}}

=== Decline (1957–1969) ===
[[File:SS_United_St.ates_1969_ad.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|A pamphlet for a New Year's cruise onboard ''United States.'' As USL's profit dropped, the ship began offering cruises to exotic locations in an attempt to recover passenger counts. Like several other voyages, the trip was canceled following her layup in 1969]]

In 1957, for the first time ever, [[Piston engine|piston-powered]] aircraft carried more passengers across the Atlantic than did ocean liners. This trend escalated as the advent of [[Jet airliner|jet-propelled airliners]] provided [[Transatlantic flight|trans-Atlantic routes]] that were only hours long, compared to days on the fastest ocean liners. The competition threatened to redirect the customers of USL and other shipping conglomerates, although the economic threat of aircraft was initially dismissed as a fad.<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|pages=167–169}}

Throughout the 1960s, the liner's reputation was permanently altered during strikes by the [[International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots|Masters, Mates, and Pilots Union]] that forced the cancellation of voyages and the reassignment of passengers. A ticket no longer guaranteed a trip aboard, and passengers and the company began to tire of the unreliable service.<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|page=170}}

The cancellations and competition from airlines slowly drew away customers. In 1960, USL refused to release a yearly passenger count because it had become so low. The issue further compounded in 1961, when the [[United States Department of Commerce|US Department of Commerce]] announced ''United States'' would no longer be used to carry US military personnel or their families. It was believed liners were "sitting ducks for Soviet bombers" and that air transport was a better option. The loss of the contract was a major blow to the company and the stark decline in passenger numbers meant change was needed.<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|page=171}}

To increase ticket sales, USL planned convert the liner ''America'' to a cruise ship, ending trans-Atlantic service for vacation destinations around North America. Similar plans were drafted for ''United States'', which would operate as a [[cruise ship]] during the less-busy winter season. The ship's cabin-class lounge would be replaced by a swimming pool and every stateroom would be fitted with a bathroom to attract vacationers. The cash-strapped company was wary of new projects and soon abandoned the idea because the refit was priced at $15&nbsp;million. The new corporate strategy was promoted a major advertising campaign that was aimed at reinventing the allure of ocean liners in the age of jet aircraft by promoting the ship's speed, luxury, reputation, or another aspect of ''United States''.<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|page=171}}

By 1961, conditions had not improved. For the first time, a voyage was canceled because only 350 people bought tickets. The US Government was subsidizing USL under the condition trans-Atlantic service must be maintained regardless of its profitability; this rule was repealed after pressure from the company. With USL now able to set unique itineraries, and hoping to exploit a new market, ''United States'' made her first cruises in the [[Caribbean]] the next year. Cruises sailed from New York and docked in [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]], [[Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|St. Thomas]], [[Trinidad]], [[Curaçao]], and [[Cristóbal, Colón|Cristobal]]. ''United States'' was the largest ship in the region and operated with a temporary pool on her aft deck and no tourist-class passengers.<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|page=|pages=172–173}}

Despite the new itinerary, ''United States'' was the most expensive liner to operate and was losing passengers to newer ships such as SS ''[[SS France (1960)|France]]''. By 1963, anxiety about ''United States''{{'}} future reached crew members and corporate leaders, many of whom unsure how long the ship would be left in service. Two years later, another strike forced the cancellation of all summer voyages, losing the ship 9,000 passengers and the company $3 million.<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|page=178–179}}

In 1968, the Atlantic liner routes were declining, with only ''United States'', ''France'', and ''[[RMS Queen Elizabeth|Queen Elizabeth]]'' conducting sailings. To distinguish herself from the competition, ''United States'' began offering much-longer voyages to distant ports in Europe, Africa, and South America. She again became the most-popular ship in the Atlantic. In 1968, USL was bought by Walter Kidd & Co, who believed the age of ocean liners had passed. Exacerbating matters, US government subsidies for the ship were curtailed because there were insufficient passenger numbers to justify the cost.<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|pages=175–177}}

Throughout her service, ''United States'' regularly brought in between $16&nbsp;million and $20&nbsp;million but her expenses grew from an initial $18&nbsp;million to $26&nbsp;million. In one of her first years of operation, the ship made USL a profit of $3&nbsp;million; in 1960, she began running at a $2&nbsp;million loss, and by the 1968 [[fiscal year]], she cost the company $4&nbsp;million despite stable revenue.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harrison |first=Michael |title=Historic American Engineering Record SS United States HAER No. PA-647 |publisher=Historic American Engineering Record |year=2012 |page=12}}</ref>

Due to strike-related costs, increasing union dues, decreasing government subsidies, a rise in alleged corporate mismanagement, and general passenger disinterest, ''United States'' was due for retirement. On 25 October 1969, ''United States'' returned from her 400th voyage and was ordered to start a scheduled yearly overhaul in [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]] early. This move canceled a planned 21-day cruise, although bookings for future voyages were still being made.<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|pages=178–179}}

=== Layup in Virginia (1969–1996) ===
While at Newport News for a scheduled annual overhaul, USL announced ''United States'' was being withdrawn from service on November 11. The ship was sealed, with all furniture, fittings, and crew uniforms left in place. Her funnels were left half-painted when work suddenly halted, which can still be seen today.<ref name=":2" /> While many saw the ship's layup as inevitable, the decision came as a shock to passengers and crew. With no warning, newly unemployed crewmembers had only days to finalize work while passengers' awaiting baggage was loaded onto ''[[SS Leonardo da Vinci (1958)|Leonardo Da Vinci]]'' for a new cruise.<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|pages=184–185}} At the time of her withdrawal, ''United States'' had made 800 transatlantic crossings (400 round trips), steamed {{convert|2,772,840|nmi|abbr=out}}, and carried 1,025,691 passengers.<ref>https://totalnavy.com/ssunitedstates.htm</ref>

In June 1970, ''United States'' was moved across the [[James River]] to the [[Virginia Port Authority#Norfolk International Terminals|Norfolk International Terminal]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. In 1973, USL transferred ownership of the vessel to the [[United States Maritime Administration]]. In 1976, [[Norwegian Cruise Line|Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line]] (NCL) was reported to be interested in purchasing the ship and converting her into a Caribbean cruise ship but the [[US Maritime Administration]] refused the sale due to the classified nature of the ship's naval design elements, forcing NCL to purchase the former ''[[SS Norway|France]]'' instead. The Navy declassified the ship's design features in 1977.<ref name=":2" />

The same year, a group headed by Harry Katz sought to purchase the ship and dock her in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], for use as a hotel and casino, but the plan was never realized.<ref>{{cite news |title=Times Daily |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19770721&id=ZhcsAAAAIBAJ&pg=2245,3405463 |access-date=2016-02-04}}</ref> By 1978, the Maritime Administration deemed ''United States'' worthless to the government and allowed her to be sold.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|page=363}}

==== Hospital ship (1970s) ====

By the 1970s, the US Navy had retired all of its [[hospital ship]]s. The now-laid up ''United States'' was studied for potential conversion in 1983 because her size and speed would allow her to rapidly deploy to address any crisis around the world. Under the name USNS ''United States'', it was planned she would have a capacity of about 1,600 hospital beds, be fitted with an aft helicopter deck, a bow [[vertical replenishment]] deck, and a refurbished interior that would have included up to 23 operating theaters and a full set of specialist rooms comparable to any major hospital on land. The plan was led by the Department of Defense and the ship was to be based in the Indian Ocean. The Navy believed the plan was too expensive and impractical, and chose to take no action on the matter.<ref name=":6" />{{Rp|page=194–196}}

==== Stripping and deterioration (1980-1996) ====
In 1980, ''United States'' was sold for $7&nbsp;million to a group headed by the Seattle developer Richard H. Hadley, who hoped to convert the liner into a floating condominium. Under Hadley's ownership, the ship was neglected and her interiors become ruined with rust.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|page=363}} In 1984, to pay creditors, the ship's fittings and furniture, which had been left in place since 1969, were sold at auction in [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. The auction took place between October 8 and 14, 1984; about 3,000 bidders paid $1.65&nbsp;million for objects from the ship.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Reif |first=Rita |date=1984-10-15 |title=S.S. United States Fans Buy Pieces of History at Ship Auction |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/15/us/ss-united-states-fans-buy-pieces-of-history-at-ship-auction.html |access-date=2021-05-06 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

[[File:SS_United_States_HDR_off_Bow.jpg|thumb|left|SS ''United States'' in a deteriorated condition in 2020|alt=A rusting ship in a dockyard]]

On March 4, 1989, ''United States'' was towed across Hampton Roads to the [[CSX Transportation|CSX]] coal pier in Newport News.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Braynard |first1=Frank |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h3OlfC6LtrkC&dq=%22ss+united+states%22+newport+news+1989&pg=PA165 |title=S.S. United States |last2=Westover |first2=Robert Hudson |year=2002 |isbn=978-1-56311-824-1 |page=165|publisher=Turner Publishing Company}}</ref> Hadley's plan of a [[Timeshare|time-share-style]] cruise ship failed financially and the ship, which the [[United States Marshals Service]] had seized, was put up for auction by the US Maritime Administration on April 27, 1992. At auction, Marmara Marine Inc purchased the ship for $2.6&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1241&dat=19920429&id=E0dTAAAAIBAJ&pg=4914,5905786 |title=S.S. United States Sold to Turkish-Backed Group |work=Daily News |date=April 29, 1992}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1992/04/28/26-million-bid-wins-ss-united-states-international-group-plans-renovation/ |title=$2.6 million bid wins SS United States International group plans renovation |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=April 28, 1992}}</ref> The company planned to have the ship refurbished and run her alongside ''[[Queen Elizabeth 2]]'' as a continuation of transatlantic service.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|page=363}}

On June 4, 1992, ''United States'' was towed to [[Sevastopol Shipyard]], Ukraine, where she underwent asbestos removal from 1993 to 1994.<ref>{{cite news |last=Richtun |first=Tatiana |title=Асбестовый след корабля 'Юнайтед Стейтс' |trans-title=Asbestos footprint of the ship ''United States'' |url=http://sevastopol.press/2007/07/12/asbestovyj-sled-korablja-junajted-stejts/ |date=July 12, 2007 |newspaper=Sevastopol Gazette |language=ru |access-date=February 22, 2022}}</ref> The ship's interior was almost completely stripped to the [[Bulkhead (partition)|bulkheads]]. The open lifeboats, which would have violated [[SOLAS Convention|SOLAS]] regulations if the ship sailed again, were removed alongside their [[davit]]s. In the US, no plans for re-purposing the vessel were finalized and in June 1996, she was towed to southern [[Philadelphia]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Famed Liner's Moving, But There's No Money Yet For A Huge Fixup Will Ship Make City Seasick? |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=August 15, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810195303/http://articles.philly.com/1996-08-15/news/25643434_1_cruise-ship-ss-united-states-commodore-cruise-lines |archive-date=August 10, 2014 |url=http://articles.philly.com/1996-08-15/news/25643434_1_cruise-ship-ss-united-states-commodore-cruise-lines}}</ref> Marmara Marine's plan failed and the company went bankrupt, leaving the ship without an owner and abandoned.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|page=363}}

===Layup in Philadelphia (beginning 1996)===
[[File:SS United States stripped interior cropped.jpg|thumb|The ship's first-class restaurant, stripped of [[asbestos]] and furnishings. The entire ship is in a similar state.|alt=A bare room with yellow-metal walls and ceiling, and a partly-rusted floor.]]

In November 1997, [[Edward Cantor]] purchased ''United States'' for $6&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |title=S.S. United States, The Turkish Years 1992–1996: What Might Have Been |work=maritimematters.com |url=http://maritimematters.com/2013/02/s-s-united-states-the-turkish-years-1992-1996-what-might-have-been/}}</ref> Two years later, the SS ''United States'' Foundation and the SS ''United States'' Conservancy (then known as the SS ''United States'' Preservation Society, Inc.) succeeded in having the ship placed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris"/>

====Norwegian Cruise Line (2003–2009)====
In 2003, [[Norwegian Cruise Line]] (NCL) purchased the ship at auction from Cantor's estate after his death. NCL intended to restore the ship to service for [[NCL America]], a newly announced, American-flagged, [[Hawaii]]an passenger service. ''United States'' was one of the few suitable ships for such service because of the [[Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886|Passenger Service Act]], which requires any vessel that is engaged in domestic commerce to be built and flagged in the US, and operated by a mostly American crew.<ref>{{cite news |title=S.S. United States may get chance to relive glory days |first=Gerard |last=Deflitch |date=September 28, 2003 |url=http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_156463.html#axzz3HlbhFN9F |newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]}}</ref> In late 2003, NCL began an extensive technical review that found the ship was in sound condition, and cataloged over 100 boxes of the ship's blueprints.<ref>{{cite web |title=Return of 'Big U' delayed by problems with Pride of America |url=http://www.professionalmariner.com/February-2007/Return-of-226-128-152Big-U-delayed-by-problems-with-Pride-of-America/ |website=professionalmariner.com |author=David Tyler |publisher=Navigator Publishing LLC |date=February 28, 2007 |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030231006/http://www.professionalmariner.com/February-2007/Return-of-226-128-152Big-U-delayed-by-problems-with-Pride-of-America/ |archive-date=October 30, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2004, NCL commenced feasibility studies for retrofitting the vessel, and in 2006, company owner [[Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay]] stated ''United States'' would be retrofitted.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615222630/http://www.maritimematters.com/shipnews.html |archive-date=June 15, 2006 |url=http://www.maritimematters.com:80/shipnews.html |title=Those Three Two Stackers |work=Maritime Matters |date=May 24, 2006 |access-date=March 14, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

By 2009, NCL changed its plans for ''United States'', which was costing the company about $800,000 yearly to keep afloat and was made redundant once {{Ship|2=Pride of America|4=2}}, {{Ship|2=Pride of Aloha|4=2}}, and {{Ship|2=Pride of Hawaii|4=2}} started operating for NCL America. The company began taking bids for the scrapping of ''United States''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Niemelä |first=Teijo |date=February 11, 2009 |title=SS United States may be offered for sale |url=http://cruisebusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=214%3Ass-united-states-may-be-offered-for-sale&catid=43%3Alatest-news-catecory&Itemid=111 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313184657/http://cruisebusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=214%3Ass-united-states-may-be-offered-for-sale&catid=43%3Alatest-news-catecory&Itemid=111 |archive-date=March 13, 2012 |access-date=2018-03-07 |work=Cruise Business Online |publisher=Cruise Media Oy Ltd}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 10, 2009 |title=United States impending sale? |url=http://www.maritimematters.com/shipnews.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219132435/http://maritimematters.com/shipnews.html |archive-date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=2009-02-11 |work=Maritime Matters}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ujifusa |first=Steven B. |date=2010-03-03 |title=SS United States now in grave peril |url=http://planphilly.com/ss-united-states-grave-peril |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307063256/http://planphilly.com/ss-united-states-grave-peril |archive-date=2010-03-07 |access-date=2020-01-17 |work=PlanPhilly}}</ref>

====Potential scrapping (2009–2010)====
The SS ''United States'' Conservancy was created in 2009 to try to save the ship by raising funds to purchase her.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706182200/http://www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/SSUS/About.html |archive-date=July 6, 2010 |url=http://www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/SSUS/About.html |title=Our History |publisher=SS United States Conservancy |access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref> On July 30, 2009, [[H. F. Lenfest]], a Philadelphia media entrepreneur and philanthropist, pledged a matching grant of $300,000 to help the Conservancy purchase the vessel from NCL's parent company.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20090730_Phila__philanthropist_to_aid_purchase_of_iconic_ship.html |title=Phila. philanthropist to aid purchase of iconic ship |access-date=2009-07-30 |last=Moran |first=Robert |date=July 30, 2009 |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |publisher=Philadelphia Newspapers LLC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803091952/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20090730_Phila__philanthropist_to_aid_purchase_of_iconic_ship.html |archive-date=August 3, 2009}}</ref> While Lenfest, a former [[Captain (United States O-6)|US Navy captain]], did not see the project as economically feasible, he was sympathetic to the ship because his father was one of the [[Naval architecture|naval architects]] who helped build her.<ref name="Ujifusa" />{{Rp|page=374}} The former US president [[Bill Clinton]] also endorsed  efforts to save the ship, having sailed on her in 1968.<ref name="film-history">{{cite web |title=Life and Times of the SS United States |url=http://www.ssunitedstates-film.com/history.html |access-date=2012-09-22 |work=The Big U: The Story of the SS United States |publisher=ssunitedstates-film.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324045944/http://www.ssunitedstatestrust.org/ |archive-date=March 24, 2010 |url=http://www.ssunitedstatestrust.org/ |title=SS United States: America's Ship of State |publisher=SS United States Trust |date=July 4, 2009 |access-date=2010-07-02}}</ref>

In November 2010, the Conservancy announced a plan to develop a "multi-purpose waterfront complex" with hotels, restaurants, and a casino along the [[Delaware River]] in [[South Philadelphia]] at the proposed location of the stalled [[Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia|Foxwoods Casino]] project. In December that year, a detailed study of the site was revealed in tandem with a plan for [[Harrah's Entertainment]] to take over the project. The deal collapsed later that month when the [[Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board]] voted to revoke the casino's license.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_a0410938-093d-11e0-ad91-001cc4c002e0.html |title=Gambling panel revokes license for proposed Foxwoods casino project in Philadelphia |access-date=2010-12-17 |last=Wittkowski |first=Donald |date=December 16, 2010 |work=[[The Press of Atlantic City]] |publisher=The Press of Atlantic City Media Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219212431/http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/article_a0410938-093d-11e0-ad91-001cc4c002e0.html |archive-date=December 19, 2010 |df=mdy}}</ref>

====Conservation (2010–2015)====
[[File:SS United States Philly 2012-2.JPG|thumb|''United States'' in 2012|alt=An ocean liner in a dockyard.]]

The Conservancy bought ''United States'' from NCL in February 2011 for a reported $3 million with Lenfest's assistance.<ref>{{cite web |author=Julie Shaw |date=January 29, 2016 |title=Is SS United States shipping out for New York? |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160129_SS_United_States_appears_bound_for_New_York_City.html |access-date=March 12, 2018 |publisher=Philly.com}}</ref> The group had funds to last 20 months that went to de-toxification and plans to make the ship financially independent, possibly as a hotel or other development project.<ref name="wsj">{{cite news |last=Pesta |first=Jesse |date=July 1, 2010 |title=Famed Liner Steers Clear of Scrapyard |newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704334604575339053837359296?mod=googlenews_wsj |access-date=2010-07-02}} {{subscription required|date=September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cox |first=Martin |date=June 30, 2010 |title=Preservationists Perched To Buy SS United States  |url=http://maritimematters.com/2010/06/preservationists-perched-to-buy-ss-united-states/ |access-date=2010-07-02 |work=Maritime Matters}}</ref> Conservancy executive director Dan McSweeney stated that possible locations for the ship included Philadelphia, New York City, and Miami.<ref name="wsj" /><ref>{{cite web |date=Fall 2010 |title=Powersips |url=http://sshsa.org/steamboat-bill |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128234249/http://sshsa.org/steamboat-bill |archive-date=November 28, 2010 |access-date=2018-03-07 |publisher=Steamship Historical Society of America}}</ref>

On February 1, 2011 The Conservancy assumed ownership of ''United States''.<ref name="sos">{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/ss-united-states-purchased-58-million/story?id=12805918 |title=Save Our Ship: Passionate Preservationists Buy a National Treasure |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=February 1, 2011 |first=John |last=Griffin | access-date = 2012-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311034621/http://www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/news/_/2011/2/video-of-february-1-title-transfer-event/ |archive-date=March 11, 2012 |url=http://www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/news/_/2011/2/video-of-february-1-title-transfer-event/ |title=Video of February 1 Title Transfer Event |date=February 9, 2011 |publisher=SS United States Conservancy |access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref> Talks about a location for the ship lasted months. In New York City, negotiations with a developer for the ship to become part of ''Vision 2020'', a $3.3&nbsp;billion waterfront development, were underway. In [[Miami, Florida]], [[Ocean Group International]] was interested in putting the ship in a slip on the north side of [[American Airlines Arena]].<ref name="mm2011-03">{{cite web |url=http://maritimematters.com/2011/03/ss-united-states-in-miami |title=SS United States Latest |date=March 16, 2011 |first=Peter |last=Knego |work=Maritime Matters |access-date=2012-09-22}}</ref> With an additional $5.8&nbsp;million donation from Lenfest, the Conservancy had about 18 months from March 2011 to convert ''United States'' into a public attraction.<ref name="mm2011-03" /> On August 5, 2011, the Conservancy announced after several studies, Philadelphia was "[n]ot likely to work there for a variety of reasons". Discussions to locate the ship at New York—her original home port—as a stationary attraction were ongoing.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002024102/http://www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/news/_/2011/8/an-update-from-conservancy-executive-director-dan-mcsweeney/ |archive-date=October 2, 2011 |url=http://www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/news/_/2011/8/an-update-from-conservancy-executive-director-dan-mcsweeney/ |title=An Update From Conservancy Executive Director Dan McSweeney |date=August 5, 2011 |publisher=SS United States Conservancy |access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref> 

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On February 7, 2012, preliminary restoration work to prepare the ship for a complete reconstruction began, although a contract had not yet been signed.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211031439/http://www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/news/_/2012/2/work-begins-to-prepare-the-ss-united-states-for-future-redevelopment/ |archive-date=February 11, 2012 |url=http://www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/news/_/2012/2/work-begins-to-prepare-the-ss-united-states-for-future-redevelopment/ |title=Work Begins to Prepare the SS United States for Future Redevelopment |date=February 7, 2012 |publisher=SS United States Conservancy |access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref> In July 2012, the Conservancy launched a new online campaign called "Save the ''United States''"; it used [[social networking]] and micro-fundraising that allowed donors to sponsor square inches of a virtual ship for redevelopment while allowing them to upload photographs and stories about their experience with the ship. The Conservancy announced donors to the virtual ship would be featured in an interactive "Wall of Honor" aboard the future SS ''United States'' museum.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.ssusc.org/news/_/2012/7/new-online-campaign-launches-to-save-the-united-states/ |title=New Online Campaign Launches to Save the United States |access-date=2012-07-17 |date=July 11, 2012 |publisher=SS United States Conservancy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716065356/http://www.ssusc.org/news/_/2012/7/new-online-campaign-launches-to-save-the-united-states/ |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://savetheunitedstates.org |title=Save the United States |publisher=SS United States Conservancy |access-date=2012-09-22}}</ref>

A developer that would put ''United States'' in a selected city by 2013 was to be chosen by the end of 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/7055-ss-united-states-to-be-repurposed.html |title=SS United States To be "Repurposed" |publisher=Cruise Industry News |date=April 5, 2012 |access-date=2012-09-22}}</ref> In November 2012, the ship underwent a months-long "below-the-deck" makeover to make her more appealing to developers as an attraction. The Conservancy was warned the ship may be scrapped if its plans were not quickly realized.<ref>{{Cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201033224/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ss-united-states-being-prepared-new-life |archive-date=December 1, 2013 |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ss-united-states-being-prepared-new-life |title=SS United States is being prepared for a new life |agency=Associated Press |date=November 28, 2013 |access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref> In January 2014, obsolete pieces of the ship were sold to pay the $80,000-a-month maintenance costs. Enough money to fund the ship for another six months was raised with the hope of finding someone committed to the project, with New York City remaining the likeliest location.<ref>{{Cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110093731/http://articles.philly.com/2014-01-06/news/45885447_1_william-francis-gibbs-ss-united-states-conservancy-pier-82 |archive-date=January 10, 2014 |url=http://articles.philly.com/2014-01-06/news/45885447_1_william-francis-gibbs-ss-united-states-conservancy-pier-82 |title=Will the SS United States find new life in 2014? |work=philly.com |date=January 6, 2014 |access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref>

In August, the ship was still moored in Philadelphia and rent costs were $60,000 a month. It was estimated $1&nbsp;billion would be needed to return ''United States'' to service, although a 2016 estimate for restoration as a luxury cruise ship placed the maximum cost at $700&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/america-tonight/articles/2014/8/12/americaa-s-flagshipadmirersofssunitedstatessendansos.html |title=America's flagship: Admirers of SS United States send an S.O.S. |work=america.aljazeera.com |date=August 12, 2014 |access-date=2014-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160208-ss-united-states-ocean-liner-cruise-ship-photos/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209094244/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160208-ss-united-states-ocean-liner-cruise-ship-photos/ |archive-date=February 9, 2016 |title=The World's Fastest Ocean Liner May Be Restored to Sail Again |date=2016-02-08 |website=National Geographic News |access-date=2016-07-10}}</ref> On September 4, 2014, a final effort to have the ship sail to New York City was made. A developer interested in re-purposing the ship as a major waterfront destination made an announcement about the move. The Conservancy had weeks to decide whether to sell the ship for scrap.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Backwell |first=George |url=http://www.marinelink.com/news/supporters-united-states376366.aspx |title=SS United States Supporters Push for NY Return |website=Marine Link |date=September 4, 2014 |access-date=2014-09-09}}</ref> On December 15, 2014, preliminary agreements in support of the redevelopment of ''United States'' were announced. The agreements included the provision of three months of carrying costs, with a timeline and more details to be released in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://maritimematters.com/2014/12/encouraging-new-ss-united-states-developments/ |title=Encouraging New SS United States Developments |work=maritimematters.com |date=December 15, 2014 |access-date=2015-01-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2014/12/16/agreement-reached-to-redevelop-ss-united-states.html |title=Agreement reached to redevelop SS United States |work=www.bizjournals.com |date=December 16, 2014 |access-date=2015-01-04}}</ref> In February 2015, the Conservancy received another $250,000 toward planning an onboard museum from an anonymous donor.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503095053/http://articles.philly.com/2015-02-11/news/59010270_1_ss-united-states-conservancy-ship-vessel |archive-date=May 3, 2015 |url=http://articles.philly.com/2015-02-11/news/59010270_1_ss-united-states-conservancy-ship-vessel |title=SS United States gains $250,000 donation |work=[[Philly.com]] |date=February 11, 2015 |access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref>

In October 2015, as the group began to exhaust funds, the Conservancy explored potential bids to scrap ''United States''. Attempts to re-purpose the ship continued; ideas for reuse included hotels, restaurants, and office space. One idea was to install computer servers in the lower decks and link them to software development businesses in office space on the upper decks. No firm plans were announced. The Conservancy said if no progress was made by October 31, 2015, they would be forced to sell the ship to a "responsible recycler".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/08/business/friends-of-the-ss-united-states-send-out-a-last-sos.html?hp&WT.nav=top-news&module=CloseSlideshow&region=SlideShowTopBar&version=SlideCard-5&action=click&contentCollection=Business%20Day&pgtype=imageslideshow |title=Friends of the S.S. United States Send Out a Last S.O.S. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 7, 2015 |access-date=2015-10-07}}</ref> As the deadline passed, it was announced $100,000 had been raised in October 2015, sparing the ship from immediate danger. By November 23, 2015, it was reported over $600,000 in donations had been received for care and upkeep, providing funding well into 2016 for the Conservancy to continue with its plan to redevelop the vessel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/donations-help-the-ss-united-states-fend-off-the-scrapyard/ar-BBnmzBf?li=BBnb7Kz |title=Donations Help the S.S. United States Fend Off the Scrapyard |publisher=msn.com |access-date=2016-02-04}}</ref>

====Crystal Cruises (2016–2018)====
On February 4, 2016, [[Crystal Cruises]] announced it had signed a purchase option for ''United States''. The company paid the ship's docking costs for nine months while it conducted a feasibility study on returning the ship to service as a cruise ship based in New York City.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923145059/http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20160205_Report__Cruise_ship_company_in_deal_to_buy_SS_United_States.html |archive-date=September 23, 2017 |url=http://mobile.philly.com/news/breaking/?wss=/philly/news/breaking&id=367636361&betaPreview=redesign |title=Can the SS United States again sail the seas? |date=February 4, 2016 |publisher=philly.com |access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/business/ss-united-states-historic-ocean-liner-of-trans-atlantic-heyday-may-sail-again.html |title=S.S. United States, Historic Ocean Liner of Trans-Atlantic Heyday, May Sail Again |date=February 4, 2016 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2016-02-04}}</ref> On April 9, 2016, it was announced 600 artifacts from ''United States'' would be returned to the ship from the [[Mariners' Museum]] and other donors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailypress.com/features/history/dp-nws-mariners-museum-donation-20160409-story.html |title=SS United States getting artifact donations from Mariners' Museum, others |publisher=Dailypress |access-date=April 14, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:A559, SS United States, Pier 82, Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 2017.jpg|thumb|SS ''United States'' docked at Pier 82 in [[Columbus Boulevard (Philadelphia)|Columbus Boulevard]], Philadelphia, on July 16, 2017]]

On August 5, 2016, the plan was abandoned; Crystal Cruises cited the project's technical and commercial challenges, and donated $350,000 to help preservation effort until the end of the year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crystal Drops SS United States Project |url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/15658-crystal-drops-ss-united-states-project.html |access-date=6 August 2016 |publisher=Cruise Industry News |date=August 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/06/business/ss-united-states-ocean-liner.html |title=The S.S. United States Won't Take to the Seas Again After All |first=Jesse |last=Pesta |newspaper=The New York Times |date=6 August 2016 |access-date=9 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/08/abandoned_ship_deal_to_save_ss_united_states_too_c.html |title=Abandoned ship: Deal to save SS United States 'too challenging' |first=Greg |last=Adomaitis |date=8 August 2016 |access-date=9 August 2016 |publisher=NJ.com}}</ref> The Conservancy continued to receive donations, including one for $150,000 from cruise-industry executive Jim Pollin.<ref name="Reef">{{cite web |url=http://www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises/ss-united-states-gets-last-minute-reprieve |title=SS United States Gets Last-Minute Reprieve |work=www.travelagentcentral.com |author=Adam Leposa |date=July 19, 2017 |access-date=July 23, 2017}}</ref> In January 2018, the Conservancy made an appeal to the US President [[Donald Trump]] to take action.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/travel/once-majestic-cruise-ship-the-s-s-united-states-could-be-americas-flagship-once-again |title=Once-majestic cruise ship, the S.S. United States, could be 'America's Flagship' once again |publisher=[[Fox News]] |author=Trina Thompson |date=January 26, 2018 |access-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref> In the event it ran out of money, the group made alternative plans for the ship, including sinking her as an [[artificial reef]] rather than scrapping her.<ref name="Reef" />

On September 20, 2018, the Conservancy consulted with Casper van Hooren and [[Damen Group|Damen Ship Repair & Conversion]] about redevelopment of ''United States''. Van Hooren had converted the former ocean liner and cruise ship {{SS|Rotterdam}} into a hotel and mixed-use development.<ref name="damen">{{cite web |url=https://www.wearetheunitedstates.org/single-post/2018/09/20/damen-ship-repair-and-conversion-welcomed-by-conservancy |title=Leading Rotterdam Ship Repair & Conversion Firm Welcomed by Conservancy |website=wearetheunitedstates.org |publisher=SS United States Conservancy |date=September 20, 2018 |access-date=September 20, 2018}}</ref>

====RXR Realty (beginning 2018)====
On December 10, 2018, the Conservancy announced an agreement with the commercial real estate firm [[RXR Realty]] to explore options for restoring and redeveloping ''United States''.<ref name=rxr1>{{cite web |url=https://www.wearetheunitedstates.org/single-post/2018/12/10/Breaking-News-New-Agreement-with-RXR-Realty |title=Breaking News: New Agreement with RXR Realty |author=Susan Gibbs |website=wearetheunitedstates.org |publisher=SS United States Conservancy |date=December 10, 2018 |access-date=December 13, 2018}}</ref> The Conservancy required any redevelopment plan to preserve the ship's profile and exterior design, and include approximately {{cvt|25000|sqft|sigfig=4}} for an onboard museum.<ref name=damen /> RXR's press release about ''United States'' stated multiple locations would be considered, depending on the viability of restoration plans.<ref name=rxr1 /><ref name="rxr2">{{cite web |author=Jacob Adelman |date=December 12, 2018 |title=NYC developer with Manhattan pier project in deal to explore reviving SS United States |url=http://www2.philly.com/real-estate/commercial/ss-united-states-rxr-realty-columbus-boulevard-ikea-20181212.html |access-date=December 13, 2018 |website=philly.com |publisher=Philly.com/Philadelphia Media Network (Digital), LLC}}</ref>

In March 2020, RXR Realty announced its plans to repurpose the ship as a permanently moored, {{cvt|600000|sqft|sigfig=4}} "hospitality and cultural space", and requested expressions of interest from major US waterfront cities, including [[Boston]], New York, Philadelphia, Miami, [[Seattle]], San Francisco, Los Angeles, and [[San Diego]].<ref name=rxr3>{{cite web |url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/u-s-cities-offered-ss-united-states-as-cultural-space |title=U.S. Cities Offered SS United States as Cultural Space |author=The Maritime Executive |date=March 11, 2020 |access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref> In 2023,  RXR Realty and [[MCR Hotels]] released a more-detailed plan for the ship's redevelopment into a 1,000-room hotel, museum, event venue, public park, and restaurant. New York City was chosen as the best location for the ship due to existing infrastructure and the nearby [[Javits Center|Javits Convention Center]], and the ship would ideally be moored to a specially built pier along the [[Hudson River]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-02 |title=Transformative Plan Unveiled to Save America's Flagship |url=https://www.ssusc.org/news/2023/11/2/transformative-plan-unveiled-to-save-americas-flagship-the-ss-united-states |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102193621/https://www.ssusc.org/news/2023/11/2/transformative-plan-unveiled-to-save-americas-flagship-the-ss-united-states |archive-date=2023-11-02 |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=SS United States Conservancy |language=en-US}}</ref>

The 2023 plan document also included several rendered images of the redesigned ''United States'' depicting the ship docked along [[West Side (Manhattan)|Manhattan's West Side]] at a public pier in [[Hudson River Park]]. One of the ship's funnels, with the top removed and exposed to the sky, would be a key element of the hotel. The funnel would act as a skylight, illuminating the hotel and event spaces. The plan also included hotel rooms held in the lifeboat [[davit]]s, a swimming pool between the funnels, and an aft-mix interior-exterior ballroom.<ref name=":3" />

==== Pier 82 rent increase (2021–2024) ====
Philadelphia's Pier 82, where the ship is located, is owned by Penn Warehousing, which in 2021 increased the ship's rent from $850 to $1,700 per day, requested $160,000 in back rent, and terminated the contract with the Conservancy. The company stated the change was due to the ''United States'' slowly damaging the pier and the Conservancy refusing to maintain a previous agreement to cover possible damages.<ref>{{cite news |last=Conde |first=Ximena |date=January 31, 2023 |title=The SS United States is in a rent dispute that could leave it without a berth |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/ss-united-states-conservancy-pier-82-rent-penn-warehousing-20230131.html |access-date=February 1, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Conde |first=Ximena |date=2024-06-14 |title=SS United States must leave its South Philadelphia berth by mid-September, judge rules |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/ss-united-states-south-philadelphia-ruling-20240614.html |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}}</ref> The Conservancy responded by stating the rent hike violated an agreement made in 2011 and refused to pay. They said Penn Warehousing illegally wanted to evict the ship so the pier could be used for more-profitable activities. This led to the Conservancy and Penn Warehousing suing each other.<ref name=":7" />

==== Eviction ====
A [[civil trial]] took place in [[Federal judiciary of the United States|federal court]] from January 17–18, 2024. Judge [[Anita B. Brody|Anita Brody]] issued a final judgment on June 14.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=22-2285 - PENN WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION, INC. v. SS UNITED STATES CONSERVANCY |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-paed-2_22-cv-02285/USCOURTS-paed-2_22-cv-02285-0 |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=www.govinfo.gov |language=en}}</ref> Brody dismissed Penn Warehousing's financial demands but found because the 2011 berthing agreement was of indefinite duration, it was terminable at will by either party upon reasonable notice. Brody ordered the removal of ''United States'' within 90 days (by September 12).<ref name=":11" /> With such a tight deadline, the Conservancy was unsure how the liner could be moved or where it could go.{{r|ME 2024-06-14}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Conde |first=Ximena |date=2024-01-17 |title=SS United States is 'every landlord's nightmare,' pier's lawyer says as rent dispute goes to trial |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/ss-united-states-penn-warehousing-trial-20240117.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Guilhem |first=Matt |date=March 11, 2024 |title=The Fastest Ocean Liner to Cross the Atlantic Faces Eviction from Pier |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/03/11/1237529064/the-fastest-ocean-liner-to-cross-the-atlantic-faces-eviction-from-pier?fbclid=IwAR0cpPWCJt451bBsDWAK7k78IF2Xmb7cUB3piVZ08JW3jDR5arge-RtB7Kk |publisher=NPR.org}}</ref> Six days later, the Conservancy began a new donation drive and requested $500,000 to help relocate the ship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-20 |title=Symbol of the Nation Evicted: Nonprofit Sending Out An Urgent Call to Help Save America's Flagship |url=https://www.ssusc.org/news/2024/06/19/symbol-of-the-nation-evicted |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=SS United States Conservancy |language=en-US}}</ref> As of October 2024, the Conservancy stated, in addition to necessary surveys, [[tugboat]]s, insurance, and other preparations, the [[2024 Atlantic hurricane season]] complicated efforts to relocate the ship before the deadline, the main difficulty being finding a port willing to host the ship.<ref name="ME 2024-06-14">{{Cite news |date=June 14, 2024 |title=Iconic Ocean Liner SS United States Ordered to Leave Berth by September |url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/iconic-ocean-liner-ss-united-states-order-to-leave-berth-by-september |work=The Maritime Executive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-21 |title=Statement from the SS United States Conservancy |url=https://www.ssusc.org/news/2024/08/21/statement-from-the-ss-united-states-conservancy |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=SS United States Conservancy |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Artificial reef ===
{{Further|Sinking ships for wreck diving sites}}On August 30, Florida's [[Okaloosa County, Florida|Okaloosa County]] announced its plan to buy ''United States'' and sink her as the world's largest [[artificial reef]] off [[Crestview–Fort Walton Beach–Destin metropolitan area|Destin-Fort Walton]] beach at a cost of $1&nbsp;million. The county identified several inshore locations, hoping tourism and diving expeditions would bring in revenue to pay for the project. The county had sunk the aircraft carrier [[USS Oriskany|USS ''Oriskany'']] as part of a similar plan, believing the two ships together would attract visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Jared |date=2024-08-30 |title=Okaloosa County to acquire SS United States for world's largest artificial reef off Destin-Fort Walton Beach |url=https://www.getthecoast.com/okaloosa-county-to-acquire-ss-united-states-for-worlds-largest-artificial-reef-off-destin-fort-walton-beach/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Get The Coast |language=en-US}}</ref>  The same day, the Conservancy said the agreement with Okaloosa County was a [[contingent contract]] and would only proceed if the Conservancy had no other options to keep the ship afloat. It would be enacted in the event no alternatives be found before the eviction deadline.<ref>{{Cite web |title=E-Newsletter Archive |url=https://www.ssusc.org/enewsletter-archive |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=SS United States Conservancy |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:SS United States before towing.jpg|thumb|left|Signs expressing sadness over the ship's imminent departure in late 2024]]

On September 12, the date on which ''United States'' was ordered to be evicted, the Conservancy accused Penn Warehousing of illegally planning to sell the ship. The Conservancy alleged the company had blocked an initial agreement with Okaloosa County then planned to seize the ship and sell her for profit, thus extorting the non-profit and Okaloosa County out of millions of dollars. The Conservancy took the issue back to court and demanded an extension to the eviction notice.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-12 |title=SS United States Conservancy claims pier landlord blocked sale of historic ship despite eviction |url=https://6abc.com/post/eviction-day-ss-united-states-future-historic-ocean-liner-south-philadelphia-remains-unknown/15294478/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=6abc Philadelphia |language=en}}</ref>

In court, the eviction deadline was temporarily suspended. The company defended itself, saying it added $3&nbsp;million to the sale of ''United States'' because she had not vacated her berth before the deadline. Blame was placed on Okaloosa County for not responding to the company's negotiations, with the ship's sale now under the judge's supervision. The company stated it wanted to remove the ship so the pier could be used to support the local economy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Conde |first=Ximena |date=2024-09-13 |title=SS United States and landlord head to mediation amid ongoing rent dispute |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/ss-us-conservancy-penn-warehousing-mediation-20240913.html |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}}</ref>

In October, Okaloosa County purchased the ship and estimated the project would take about 18 months and $10&nbsp;million after the judge approved. Part of the money would be used to create a land-based museum, consisting of several re-created onboard spaces, her radar mast, and at least one funnel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bulletin |first=Bay |date=2024-10-08 |title=Virginia-Built Speedy Ocean Liner to Become World’s Largest Artificial Reef |url=https://www.chesapeakebaymagazine.com/norfolk-built-speedy-ocean-liner-to-become-worlds-largest-artificial-reef/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Chesapeake Bay Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-11 |title=Dispute Between the SS United States Conservancy and Penn Warehousing Settled; Plans Announced for Next Chapter |url=https://www.ssusc.org/news/2024/10/11/dispute-between-the-ss-united-states-conservancy-and-penn-warehousing-settled-plans-announced-for-next-chapter |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=SS United States Conservancy |language=en-US}}</ref> She is currently in Philadelphia, awaiting towing to [[Mobile, Alabama]], to be prepared for scuttling.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holden |first=Joe |last2=Specht |first2=Ed |date=2024-10-28 |title=SS United States' departure from Philadelphia's Pier 82 delayed due to possible storm in Caribbean - CBS Philadelphia |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/ss-united-states-departure-philadelphia-delayed/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2024 images ===
<gallery>
File:SS United States Pool 2024.jpg|The drained ship's swimming pool
File:SS United State's 1st Class Dining Room from Minstrels' Gallery, 2024.jpg|The [[Minstrels' gallery|Minstrel's Gallery]], looking down onto the first-class dining room one deck below. 
File:SS United States Enclosed Promenade 2024.jpg|The 1st-class enclosed [[promenade]], which runs for most of the ship's length.
File:SS United States 1st Class Cabins, 2024.jpg|A passageway with the footprint of first-class staterooms on the left. 
File:SS United States Bow 2024.jpg|The rusting ship's name and bow.
</gallery>

==Artifacts==

===Artwork===
[[File:NMAH-2009-2237.jpg|thumb|''The Currents'', a painted mural originally for ''United States'' displayed at the [[Smithsonian Institution]]]]

The [[Mariners' Museum and Park|Mariners' Museum of Newport News]] holds many objects from ''United States'', including ''Expressions of Freedom'' by Gwen Lux, a main-dining-room sculpture it purchased during the 1984 auction.<ref name=":1" /> [[Celebrity Cruises]] purchased artworks designed by Charles Gilbert, including glass panels etched with sea creatures from the first-class ballroom, and incorporated them into the ''United States''-themed restaurant aboard {{Ship|Celebrity|Infinity|4=2}} .<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-10 |title=S.S. United States – Celebrity Infinity |url=http://www.cruisetotravel.com/2014/05/11/s-s-united-states-celebrity-infinity/ |access-date=2021-05-06 |website=Cruise to Travel |language=en-US}}</ref> Other onboard memorabilia, including original porcelain and a ship model, were moved to the entrance of the ship's casino in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sloan |first=Gene |title=Celebrity Cruises to jettison history-filled restaurants |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2015/10/09/celebrity-cruises-restaurant-makeover/73640978/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-10 |title=S.S. United States – Celebrity Infinity |url=http://www.cruisetotravel.com/2014/05/11/s-s-united-states-celebrity-infinity/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=CruiseToTravel |language=en-US}}</ref> At the [[National Museum of American History]], the mural ''The Current'' by Raymond John Wendell is on display.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mural Painting, The Currents |url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1342690 |access-date=2021-05-06 |website=National Museum of American History |language=en}}</ref> The museum also bought two murals by [[Hildreth Meiere|Hildreth Meière]]—''Mississippi'' and ''Father of Waters''—but these are not on display.<ref name=":0" />

===Propellers and fittings===

One of the five-bladed propellers from ''United States'' is mounted at Pier 76 in New York City and the other is mounted outside the [[United States Merchant Marine Academy|American Merchant Marine Museum]] at the [[United States Merchant Marine Academy]] in [[Kings Point, New York|Kings Point]], New York. The starboard-side five-bladed propeller is mounted near the waterfront at [[State University of New York Maritime College|SUNY Maritime College]] in [[Fort Schuyler]], New York, while the port side propeller is fitted on an original {{cvt|63|ft}} long [[drive shaft]] at the entrance of the [[Mariners' Museum and Park|Mariner's Museum]] in Newport News, Virginia.<ref>{{cite web |title=The SS United States' Preserved Propellers |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/enwiki/static/5df6b4db88a9697f28878602/t/5dfc19f461d2a378c660a3e9/1576802810374/SSUSPropellers.pdf |publisher=SS United States Conservancy |date=June 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Prop with bridge.jpg|left|thumb|One of the ship's propellers near [[Throgs Neck Bridge]] in New York]]

The ship's bell, which is kept in a clock tower on the campus of [[Christopher Newport University]] in Newport News, Virginia, is used to celebrate special events, and is rung by incoming [[freshmen]] and by outgoing graduates.<ref>{{cite web |title=Traditions – Who We Are |url=https://cnu.edu/whoweare/traditions/ |publisher=Christopher Newport University |access-date=29 July 2020}}</ref>

One of the ship's horns that stood on display for decades above a hardware store in [[Revere, Massachusetts]], was sold to a private collector in Texas for $8,000 in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |first=Journal |title=Rent-A-Tool to Close April 25 After 63 Years in Business |url=https://reverejournal.com/2017/04/22/rent-a-tool-to-close-april-25-after-63-years-in-business/ |access-date=2021-05-06 |website=reverejournal.com |date=April 22, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref>

A large collection of dining-room furniture and other memorabilia from ''United States'' that had been purchased at the 1984 auction was incorporated at Windmill Point Restaurant in [[Nags Head, North Carolina|Nags Head]], North Carolina. Following the restaurant's closure, the items were donated to the Mariners' Museum and Christopher Newport University in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-03-02 |title=Windmill Point set to go out in a blaze of glory |url=https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/2011/03/01/windmill-point-set-to-go-out-in-a-blaze-of-glory/ |access-date=2021-05-09 |website=The Outer Banks Voice |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Speed records==
[[File:HoverSpeed Great Britain.jpg|thumb|''Hoverspeed Great Britain'', which won the Hales Trophy from ''United States'']]

With both the eastbound and westbound speed records, SS ''United States'' obtained the [[Blue Riband]], which marked the first time a US-flagged ship had held the record since {{SS|Baltic|1850|6}} claimed the prize 100 years earlier. During her 17 years of service, ''United States'' maintained a crossing speed of {{cvt|30|kn|0}} in the North Atlantic, where she was unchallenged. Due to the decline of ocean liners during the 1960s, many regard the Blue Riband as having ended with ''United States''.<ref name="Kludas">{{cite book |first=Arnold |last=Kludas |title=Record Breakers of the North Atlantic: The Blue Riband Liners, 1838–1952 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_QOaaU5UwRcC |access-date=2010-10-03 |date=April 2002 |publisher=Brassey, Inc |page=136 |isbn=978-1-57488-458-6}}</ref> ''United States''{{'}} east-bound record was broken several times, first in 1986 by ''[[Virgin Atlantic Challenger II]]'', and her west-bound record [[Columbus Atlantic Trophy|was broken in 1990]] by ''[[Destriero]]'', but these vessels were not passenger-carrying ocean liners. The [[Hales Trophy]] was lost in 1990 to ''[[Hoverspeed Great Britain]]'', which set a new eastbound speed record for a commercial vessel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HSC HOVERSPEED GREAT BRITAIN (1990) |url=https://www.faktaomfartyg.se/hoverspeed_great_britain_1990.htm |access-date=2022-07-01 |website=www.faktaomfartyg.se}}</ref>

==In film==
Due to her association with luxury and fame, several movies have prominently featured ''United States'' during her time in and out of service. The ship is a major plot point in films such as [[Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953 film)|''Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'']] (1953), ''[[Gentlemen Marry Brunettes]]'' (1955), and ''[[Bon Voyage! (1962 film)|Bon Voyage!]]'' (1962).<ref>{{Citation |last=Neilson |first=James |title=Bon Voyage! |date=1962-05-17 |type=Adventure, Comedy, Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055807/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |others=Fred MacMurray, Jane Wyman, Michael Callan |publisher=Walt Disney Productions}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Conservancy |first=SSUS |date=2017-10-25 |title=SS United States on Screen: Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955) |url=https://www.wearetheunitedstates.org/single-post/2017/10/21/ss-united-states-film-gentlemen-marry-brunettes |access-date=2021-05-09 |website=we-are-the-us |language=en}}</ref> More recently, she was used as a set for and appeared in the [[Thriller film|thriller]] ''[[Dead Man Down]]'' (2013) while docked in Philadelphia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-01-19 |title=January 19, 2013 - Upcoming Hollywood Thriller Filmed On Board SS United States |url=https://www.ssusc.org/news/upcoming-hollywood-thriller-filmed-on-board-ss-united-states |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=SS United States Conservancy |language=en-US}}</ref> Numerous documentaries about the ship have been made, such as ''[[SS United States: Lady in Waiting]]'', ''SS United States: Made in America'', and ''The SS United States: From Dream to Reality''.<ref>{{Citation |last=Radler |first=Robert |title=SS United States: Made in America |date=2013-03-01 |type=Documentary |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2850770/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |others=Walter Cronkite, William H. Miller, Mark B. Perry |publisher=Big Ship Films}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Documentary Film: Lady in Waiting |url=https://www.ssusc.org/documentary-film-lady-in-waiting |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=SS United States Conservancy |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The SS United States: From Dream to Reality |url=https://store.titanichistoricalsociety.org/product/the-ss-united-states-from-dream-to-reality/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=Titanic Historical Society, Inc. |language=en-US}}</ref>  She also appears in the opening sequence of [[West Side Story (1961 film)|''West Side Story'']] (1961).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Conservancy |first=SSUS |date=2017-10-17 |title=VIDEO: SS United States in opening credits of West Side Story (1961) |url=https://www.wearetheunitedstates.org/single-post/2017/10/15/watch-ss-united-states-opening-credits-west-side-story |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=we-are-the-us |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Philadelphia}}

* [[John W. Anderson (sailor)|John W. Anderson]] and [[Harry Manning|Commodore Harry Manning]], captains of ''United States''

=== Other US passenger ships ===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[SS Leviathan|SS ''Leviathan'']]
*[[SS California (1927)|SS ''California'' (1927)]]
*[[SS Brazil (1928)|SS ''Virginia'' (1928)]]
*[[SS Argentina (1929)|SS ''Pennsylvania'' (1929)]]
*[[SS Manhattan (1931)|SS ''Manhattan'' (1931)]]
*[[SS Washington|SS ''Washington'' (1932)]]
*[[SS The Emerald|SS ''Santa Rosa'' (1958)]]
*[[Pride of America|MS ''Pride of America'' (2002)]]
{{div col end}}

=== Restored ocean liners ===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Minghua (ship)|MV ''Minghua'']] 
* [[MV Doulos Phos|SS ''Doulos Phos'']]
* [[Hikawa Maru|SS ''Hikawa Maru'']]
* [[MV Funchal|MV ''Funchal'']]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

<!-- ==Notes==
{{notelist}} Unused now -->

==Bibliography ==
*''A Man and His Ship: America's Greatest Naval Architect and His Quest to Build the S.S. United States'', Steven Ujifusa, Simon & Schuster; Reprint ed.,  (2013), {{ISBN|1-4516-4509-0}}
*''Crossing on Time: Steam Engines, Fast Ships, and a Journey to the New World,'' [[David Macaulay]], Roaring Brook Press (2019), {{ISBN|978-1-59643-477-6}}
*''Picture History of the SS United States'', William H. Miller, Dover Publications (2012), {{ASIN|B00A73FIMK}}
*''SS United States: An Operational Guide to America's Flagship'', James Rindfleisch, Schiffer; (2023), {{ISBN|978-0-7643-6655-0}}
*''SS United States: America's Superliner'', Les Streater, Maritime Publishing Co. (2011), {{ISBN|0-9531035-6-0}}
*''S.S. United States: The Story of America's Greatest Ocean Liner'', William H. Miller, W.W. Norton & Company (1991), {{ISBN|0-393-03062-8}}
*''S.S. United States: Fastest Ship in the World'', Frank Braynard & Robert Hudson Westover, Turner Publishing Company (2002), {{ISBN|1-56311-824-6}}
*''SS United States'', Andrew Britton, The History Press (2012), {{ISBN|0-7524-7953-9}}
*''SS United States: Red, White, and Blue Riband, Forever'', John Maxtone-Graham, W.W. Norton & Company; 1st ed. (2014), {{ISBN|0-393-24170-X}}
*''SS United States: Speed Queen of the Seas'', William H. Miller, Amberley Publishing (2015), {{ASIN|B00V76G2O4}}
*''SS United States: Ship of Power, Might, and Indecision,'' William H. Miller, Fonthill Media, (2022), {{ISBN|1-62545-115-6}}
*''Superliner S.S. United States'', Henry Billings, The Viking Press (1953)
*{{Cite book |last=Braynard |first=Frank O. |title=The big ship: the story of the S.S. United States |year=2011 |orig-date=1981|publisher=Turner |isbn=978-1-59652-764-5 |edition=New|location=New York |oclc=745439004}}
*''The Last Great Race, The S.S. United States and the Blue Riband'', Lawrence M. Driscoll, The Glencannon Press; 1st ed., (2013) {{ISBN|978-1-889901-59-6}}

== Further reading ==
*{{Cite news |last=Pesta |first=Jesse |date=2024-08-09 |title=Can This Woman Save the United States? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/09/us/ss-united-states-philadelphia.html |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|United States (ship, 1952)}}

=== Documents ===
* [http://www.ssusc.org/ SS ''United States'' Conservancy<!-- ship name not italicized at org's website -->], current owner of SS ''United States''
* {{HAER |survey=PA-647 |id=pa4126 |title=SS ''United States''}}
* [https://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF076954/00001/thumbs First Class Deck Plan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024173132/https://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF076954/00001/thumbs |date=October 24, 2021 }}
* [https://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF038423/00001/thumbs Cabin Class Deck Plan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024173134/https://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF038423/00001/thumbs |date=October 24, 2021 }}
* [https://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF076955/00001/thumbs Tourist Class Deck Plan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024173133/https://digital.wolfsonian.org/WOLF076955/00001/thumbs |date=October 24, 2021 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080602110151/http://united-states-lines.org/ssunited.htm SS ''United States''], archive of various stories from the ''united-states-lines.org'' website

=== Artwork ===
* {{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/fiction/poetry/2007/04/16/070416po_poem_williams |title=Poetry – The ''United States'' |first=C. K. |last=Williams |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |date=April 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110092236/http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/poetry/2007/04/16/070416po_poem_williams |archive-date=January 10, 2014 |df=mdy-all}}
* [https://www.hildrethmeiere.org/commissions/ss-united-states SS ''United States'' Onboard Artwork: Hildreth Meière], images of several onboard pieces

=== Video ===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuBKewWTag0&ab_channel=BrightSunFilms Inside the Abandoned S.S. ''United States''], 2021 YouTube tour video

=== Other ===
* [http://ss-united-states.com/ SS ''United States''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702193222/http://www.ss-united-states.com/ |date=July 2, 2020 }}, the defunct website of the Conservancy
* [https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/UNITED-STATES-IMO-5373476-MMSI-0 Information on SS ''United States'' from vesselfinder.com] This page gives a list of registered owners of the ship

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{s-bef
| rows = 2
| before = [[RMS Queen Mary|''Queen Mary'']]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Holder of the [[Blue Riband]] (eastbound record)
| years = 1952–present
}}
{{s-aft
| rows = 2
| after = None<!--<ref>The story of the Blue Riband is regarded by many as having ended with the ''United States'' (see Kludas p136). The east-bound record has been broken several times (first time in 1980), and west-bound record in 1990, but these vessels were not passenger-carrying ocean liners</ref>-->
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Blue Riband]] (westbound record)
| years = 1952–present
}}
|-
{{s-bef
| rows = 2
| before = [[SS Normandie|''Normandie'']]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Holder of the [[Hales Trophy]]
| years = 1952–1990
}}
{{s-aft
| after = ''[[Hoverspeed Great Britain]]''
}}
{{s-end}}{{Ocean liners designed by William Francis Gibbs}}{{Philadelphia}}{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}{{Registered Historic Places}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:United States}}
[[Category:Ocean liners]]
[[Category:Steamships of the United States]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Blue Riband holders]]
[[Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Passenger ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Newport News, Virginia]]
[[Category:Ships of the United States Lines]]
[[Category:Ships on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1951 ships]]
[[Category:Troop ships]]
[[Category:Ships on the National Register of Historic Places]]