History of SS United States in Timeline

The SS United States is a retired American ocean liner, built in 1951 for United States Lines. It holds the distinction of being the largest ocean liner ever constructed in the United States. More significantly, it remains the fastest passenger liner to cross the Atlantic in both directions, a feat achieved on its maiden voyage in 1952. It still holds the Blue Riband, awarded for the highest average speed during the transatlantic crossing, underscoring its advanced engineering and historical importance.

1929: Manning Rescue

In 1929, Commodore Harry Manning rescued crewmembers from the cargo ship Florida.

1936: Government Planning

In 1936, the US government was planning to replace the aging Leviathan.

1945: US Maritime Commission Request

In 1945, the US Maritime Commission requested designs for a ship that could transport soldiers in future conflicts.

1950: Construction start

In 1950, construction began on the SS United States, an ocean liner commissioned by the United States Lines.

1950: Keel laid

On 8 February, 1950 the keel for the SS United States was laid after an aircraft carrier project was cancelled.

1951: Crew Instructions

In 1951, Gibbs instructed the crew to "[not] beat the record by very much. Beat it by a reasonable amount, such as 32 knots."

1951: Construction Continues

In 1951, construction continued on the SS United States.

1951: Christened and launched

On June 23, 1951, the SS United States was christened and launched as a joint effort by the United States Navy and United States Lines.

June 10, 1952: Full-power trial run

On June 10, 1952, during a full-power trial run, the SS United States reached a top speed of 38.32 kn (70.97 km/h; 44.10 mph).

1952: Service Start

In 1952, the SS United States began her service, transporting celebrities and immigrants.

1952: Record-Breaking Maiden Voyage

In 1952, the SS United States broke the eastbound and westbound transatlantic speed records on her maiden voyage, winning the Blue Riband and the Hales Trophy.

1953: Featured in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'

In 1953, the SS United States was featured in the film 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'.

1955: Featured in 'Gentlemen Marry Brunettes'

In 1955, the SS United States was featured in the film 'Gentlemen Marry Brunettes'.

1957: Air Travel Overtakes Ocean Liners

In 1957, piston-powered aircraft carried more passengers across the Atlantic than ocean liners for the first time.

1958: President Washington Project

In 1958, United States Lines drafted plans to build the SS President Washington, a superliner with a design similar to the SS United States, but the project was never realized.

1960: Low passenger count

In 1960, USL refused to release a yearly passenger count because it had become so low.

1960: Operating Loss

In 1960, the SS United States began running at a $2 million loss.

1961: First voyage cancellation

In 1961, a voyage was canceled because only 350 people bought tickets.

1961: Appears in 'West Side Story'

In 1961, the SS United States appears in the opening sequence of 'West Side Story'.

1961: Loss of military contract

In 1961, the US Department of Commerce announced the SS United States would no longer be used to carry US military personnel, which was a major blow to the company.

1962: Featured in "Bon Voyage!"

In 1962, the SS United States was featured in Walt Disney's film Bon Voyage!

1963: Future Anxiety

By 1963, anxiety about the SS United States' future reached crew members and corporate leaders.

1968: Increased Operating Costs

By the 1968 fiscal year, the SS United States cost the company $4 million despite stable revenue.

1968: Speed report

In 1968, The New York Times reported the ship could make 42 kn (78 km/h; 48 mph) at a maximum power output of 240,000 hp (180,000 kW).

1968: Bill Clinton Sailed on the Ship

In 1968, former US President Bill Clinton sailed on the SS United States, creating a personal connection to the ship.

1968: Longer Voyages Offered

In 1968, the SS United States began offering much-longer voyages to distant ports to distinguish herself from the competition.

October 1969: Scheduled Overhaul

On 25 October 1969, after her 400th voyage, the SS United States was ordered to start a scheduled yearly overhaul early in Newport News.

1969: Service End

In 1969, the SS United States ended her service due to declining passenger counts.

1969: End of Active Service

In 1969, the SS United States was taken out of active service. Its fittings and furniture remained untouched until 1984.

1969: Withdrawal From Service

In 1969, the SS United States was withdrawn from service following the financial collapse of United States Lines.

June 1970: Move to Norfolk

In June 1970, the SS United States was moved to the Norfolk International Terminal in Norfolk, Virginia.

1973: Ownership Transfer

In 1973, USL transferred ownership of the vessel to the United States Maritime Administration.

1973: Unsuccessful Auctions to Sell the Ship

In 1973, the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) began a series of unsuccessful auctions to sell the SS United States.

1973: MARAD Attempts to Sell or Charter the Ship

In 1973, upon taking possession of the SS United States in February, the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) immediately attempted to sell or charter the ship to private parties, according to a GAO document.

1975: Unsuccessful Auctions to Sell the Ship Continue

By 1975, the SS United States had been up for auction three times, each time failing to result in a sale.

1976: Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line Interest

In 1976, Norwegian Caribbean Cruise Line (NCL) was interested in purchasing the ship, but the US Maritime Administration refused due to classified design elements.

1976: Expanded Use Rule for Potential Buyers

In 1976, the rule regarding potential buyer's use of the SS United States was expanded to allow its sale for use as a floating hotel in or on the navigable waters of the United States.

1977: Declassification of design

In 1977, the Navy declassified the ship's design features.

September 1978: Sale to United States Cruise Lines

In September 1978, United States Cruise Lines, headed by Richard Hadley, made a deal with MARAD to purchase the ship outside of the typical auction process.

1978: Deemed worthless

By 1978, the Maritime Administration deemed United States worthless to the government and allowed her to be sold.

1978: More Unsuccessful Auctions

In 1978, two more auctions were conducted under the new terms, but as with previous auctions, no bids were accompanied by a 10% deposit, so there was no sale.

1979: GAO Ruling on Sale Complaint

In 1979, the GAO ruled that a complaint filed by Sea Containers regarding the sale of the SS United States to United States Cruise Lines was without merit, allowing the sale to move forward.

1980: Sale to Richard H. Hadley

In 1980, the SS United States was sold for $7 million to a group headed by Seattle developer Richard H. Hadley, who planned to convert the liner into a floating condominium.

1983: Study for Potential Conversion to Hospital Ship

In 1983, the laid-up SS United States was studied for a potential conversion to a hospital ship, named USNS United States, intended for rapid deployment in global crises.

1984: Furniture Purchased at Auction

In 1984, a large collection of dining-room furniture and other memorabilia from the SS United States was purchased at auction.

1984: Mariners' Museum Purchases Sculpture

In 1984, during the auction, the Mariners' Museum of Newport News purchased Expressions of Freedom by Gwen Lux, a main-dining-room sculpture from the SS United States.

1984: Interior Auction

In 1984, the interior furnishings of the SS United States were sold at auction.

1984: Auction of Ship's Fittings and Furniture

In 1984, to pay creditors, the SS United States's fittings and furniture, which had been left in place since 1969, were sold at auction in Norfolk, Virginia, raising $1.65 million.

1986: Eastbound Record Broken

In 1986, the SS United States' eastbound speed record was broken by the Virgin Atlantic Challenger II.

March 4, 1989: Towed to CSX Coal Pier

On March 4, 1989, the SS United States was towed across Hampton Roads to the CSX coal pier in Newport News.

1990: Westbound Record Broken

In 1990, the SS United States' westbound record was broken by Destriero and Hales Trophy was lost to Hoverspeed Great Britain.

April 27, 1992: Auction by US Maritime Administration

On April 27, 1992, the US Maritime Administration put the SS United States up for auction after Hadley's plan for a time-share-style cruise ship failed financially.

1992: Sailing to Turkey for Refurbishment

In 1992, specifically on June 5th, the SS United States began its journey to Turkey for refurbishment, arriving 35 days later.

October 1993: Towed to Sevastopol, Ukraine for Asbestos Removal

In October 1993, the SS United States was towed to Sevastopol, Ukraine, arriving on November 1st, for asbestos removal following protests from Greenpeace.

1994: Interior Stripping

In 1994, the rest of the SS United States' interiors were stripped to the bulkheads.

1996: Completion of Asbestos Removal and Financial Difficulties

By 1996, asbestos removal was completed on the SS United States, but Marmara Marine Inc. faced financial difficulties, leading to the sale of ship parts and eventual seizure by US Marshalls.

1996: Towed to Philadelphia

In 1996, the SS United States was towed to Philadelphia, where she remained until 2025.

November 1997: Edward Cantor Purchases United States

In November 1997, Edward Cantor purchased the SS United States for $6 million, marking a new chapter in the ship's history.

2003: NCL Purchases the Ship at Auction

In 2003, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) purchased the SS United States at auction from Cantor's estate with intentions to restore the ship to service.

August 2004: Feasibility Studies for Retrofitting Commence

In August 2004, NCL commenced feasibility studies for retrofitting the SS United States, exploring options for its potential restoration.

2006: NCL Announces Plans to Retrofit United States

In 2006, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, owner of NCL, announced that the SS United States would be retrofitted, signaling a commitment to the ship's restoration.

2007: Items Donated to Museums

In 2007, after the closure of Windmill Point Restaurant, dining-room furniture and memorabilia from the SS United States were donated to the Mariners' Museum and Christopher Newport University.

July 30, 2009: Lenfest Pledges Matching Grant

On July 30, 2009, H. F. Lenfest pledged a matching grant of $300,000 to help the Conservancy purchase the SS United States from NCL's parent company.

2009: NCL Begins Taking Bids for Scrapping United States

By 2009, NCL changed its plans for the SS United States and began taking bids for its scrapping due to high costs and redundancy.

2009: Conservancy Fundraising

Since 2009, the 'SS United States Conservancy' began raising funds to save the ship.

November 2010: Conservancy Announces Waterfront Complex Plan

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.

February 1, 2011: Conservancy Assumes Ownership

On February 1, 2011, The Conservancy assumed ownership of the SS United States, marking a new chapter in its preservation efforts.

February 2011: Conservancy Buys United States from NCL

In February 2011, the Conservancy bought the SS United States from NCL for a reported $3 million with assistance from Lenfest, aiming to make the ship financially independent.

March 2011: Conservancy Given 18 Months

In March 2011, with an additional donation from Lenfest, the Conservancy had about 18 months to convert the SS United States into a public attraction.

August 5, 2011: Philadelphia Ruled Out as Location

On August 5, 2011, the Conservancy announced that after several studies, Philadelphia was "[n]ot likely to work there for a variety of reasons" as a location for the SS United States.

2011: Original Berthing Agreement

In 2011, an agreement was made between the Conservancy and Penn Warehousing regarding the ship's berthing at Pier 82.

2011: Conservancy Purchase

In 2011, the SS United States Conservancy purchased the ship.

February 7, 2012: Preliminary Restoration Work Begins

On February 7, 2012, preliminary restoration work to prepare the SS United States for a complete reconstruction began, even without a signed contract.

July 2012: "Save the United States" Campaign Launched

In July 2012, the Conservancy launched a new online campaign called "Save the United States," using social networking and micro-fundraising to allow donors to sponsor square inches of a virtual ship.

November 2012: "Below-the-Deck" Makeover

In November 2012, the SS United States underwent a months-long "below-the-deck" makeover to make her more appealing to developers as an attraction.

2013: Search for Developer

By 2013, a developer was to be chosen to put the SS United States in a selected city, but the ship's future remained uncertain.

2013: Used as a Set for 'Dead Man Down'

In 2013, while docked in Philadelphia, the SS United States was used as a set for and appeared in the thriller 'Dead Man Down'.

January 2014: Obsolete Pieces Sold to Pay Maintenance Costs

In January 2014, obsolete pieces of the SS United States were sold to pay the $80,000-a-month maintenance costs, raising enough money to fund the ship for another six months.

September 4, 2014: Final Effort to Have the Ship Sail to New York City

On September 4, 2014, a final effort was made to have the SS United States sail to New York City, with a developer interested in re-purposing the ship as a major waterfront destination making an announcement about the move.

December 15, 2014: Preliminary Agreements Announced

On December 15, 2014, preliminary agreements in support of the redevelopment of the SS United States were announced, including the provision of three months of carrying costs, with a timeline and more details to be released in 2015.

February 2015: Conservancy Receives Donation for Onboard Museum

In February 2015, the Conservancy received another $250,000 from an anonymous donor toward planning an onboard museum on the SS United States.

October 2015: Conservancy Explores Potential Bids to Scrap United States

In October 2015, as funds began to exhaust, the Conservancy explored potential bids to scrap the SS United States, while also continuing attempts to re-purpose the ship.

October 31, 2015: Deadline to Sell Ship

On October 31, 2015, the Conservancy faced a deadline to sell the SS United States to a "responsible recycler" if no progress was made in re-purposing the ship.

November 23, 2015: Donations Received for Care and Upkeep

By November 23, 2015, it was reported over $600,000 in donations had been received for care and upkeep of the SS United States, providing funding well into 2016.

2015: Memorabilia Moved to Ship's Casino

In 2015, onboard memorabilia, including original porcelain and a ship model from SS United States, were moved to the entrance of the ship's casino.

February 4, 2016: Crystal Cruises Signs Purchase Option

On February 4, 2016, Crystal Cruises announced it had signed a purchase option for the SS United States, paying the ship's docking costs for nine months to conduct a feasibility study.

April 9, 2016: Artifacts Returned to the Ship

On April 9, 2016, it was announced that 600 artifacts from the SS United States would be returned to the ship from the Mariners' Museum and other donors.

August 5, 2016: Crystal Cruises Abandons Plan

On August 5, 2016, Crystal Cruises abandoned its plan for the SS United States, citing technical and commercial challenges, but donated $350,000 to preservation efforts.

2016: Estimate for Restoration as Luxury Cruise Ship

A 2016 estimate for the SS United States' restoration as a luxury cruise ship placed the maximum cost at $700 million, highlighting the scale of the project.

2016: Funding for Conservancy

In 2016, the SS United States Conservancy received funding, allowing it to continue with its plan to redevelop the vessel.

2017: Ship's Horn Sold to Private Collector

In 2017, one of the ship's horns, which had been on display for decades in Revere, Massachusetts, was sold to a private collector in Texas for $8,000.

January 2018: Conservancy Appeals to President Trump

In January 2018, the Conservancy made an appeal to US President Donald Trump to take action to save the SS United States.

September 20, 2018: Conservancy Consults on Redevelopment

On September 20, 2018, the Conservancy consulted with Casper van Hooren and Damen Ship Repair & Conversion about redevelopment of the SS United States.

December 10, 2018: Conservancy and RXR Realty Agreement

On December 10, 2018, the Conservancy announced an agreement with RXR Realty to explore restoration and redevelopment options for the SS United States, stipulating preservation of the ship's exterior and a 25,000 sq ft onboard museum.

March 2020: RXR Realty Announces Repurposing Plans

In March 2020, RXR Realty announced plans to repurpose the ship as a permanently moored, 600,000 sq ft hospitality and cultural space, soliciting interest from waterfront cities.

2020: Negotiations with New York Developer

In 2011, negotiations were underway with a developer in New York City for the SS United States to become part of Vision 2020, a $3.3 billion waterfront development.

2021: Penn Warehousing Increases Ship's Rent

In 2021, Penn Warehousing 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, citing damages to the pier.

2023: RXR Realty and MCR Hotels Release Redevelopment Plan

In 2023, RXR Realty and MCR Hotels released a detailed redevelopment plan for the SS United States, envisioning a 1,000-room hotel, museum, event venue, public park, and restaurant in New York City.

2023: Redesign Renderings Released

In 2023, design renderings of the SS United States docked on Manhattan's West Side were released, showing hotel rooms, event spaces, a swimming pool, and an aft-mix interior-exterior ballroom.

October 2024: Conservancy Donation Drive and Relocation Challenges

As of October 2024, the Conservancy began a donation drive and requested $500,000 to help relocate the ship due to the eviction order. The Atlantic hurricane season complicated relocation efforts before the deadline, the main difficulty being finding a port willing to host the ship.

2024: Eviction from Pier

Due to a rent dispute, in 2024, the SS United States was evicted from her pier.

2024: Ticket Price Equivalent

In 2024 equivalent, a first-class ticket would start at $3,971, a cabin ticket $2,496, and a tourist ticket $1,872.

2024: Okaloosa County Purchases the Ship

In October 2024, Okaloosa County purchased the ship and estimated the project would take about 18 months and $10 million after the judge approved.

February 8, 2025: Move Announced for February 8, 2025 Cancelled

A move of the SS United States, announced for February 8, 2025, was cancelled due to details requested by the Coast Guard related to moving the liner between Piers 82 and 80 prior to departure.