SS United States

Address:	Pier 82, Philadelphia, PA 19148, USA
Phone:	+1 888-488-7787
Site:	ssusc.org
Rating:	4.6

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 7

Bailey Paliolonga

My grandfather sailed over to the United States after WWII from Germany on the 1st voyage (not the maiden voyage which is from one point to another, 1st voyage is from home to another point to another point and another and another until it finally comes home). This ship means a lot to me because of that. When I was 9 my family went on a trip to the East coast and while driving through Philadelphia my mom had told me to keep an eye out for the SS United States because she told me it was there. I looked out the window for nearly two hours before finally seeing the most beautiful thing in the world. The two old, but still shinning even on a cloudy day, smokestacks of the SS United States, the ship that brought my grandfather here, my favorite ocean liner, the ship that still to this day holds the blue riband. I cried. I craned my neck around to see it until I couldnt see it anymore. I believe that its safe to say that that ship brought me life and now I want to give life back into it. As it is the RMS Queen Mary is the only other restored cruise ship left and it was amazing to see it. The RMS Queen Mary is (believe it or not) the biggest ocean liner in the world. No people, the RMS Titanic was not the biggest ocean liner in the world, it was the biggest of its time. It only seems fitting that we save the worlds biggest ocean liner (the RMS Queen Mary) and the worlds fastest ocean liner (the SS United States). So what if we cant get close to it? Theyre trying to protect it and all the valuables inside, including the blue riband. It brought me to tears just looking at it and I feel that if one day it is restored I will take it back to Germany. So please, please, please, please restore the SS United States to its original beauty. And go see it if you have the chance. You will be overwhelmed by its beauty and nothing can prepare you for the feeling of seeing it in person. It is a piece of history. A reminder of the past, of our families, and of our nation.

Shipster RD

The SS United States was an absolutely beautiful sight to see! I enjoyed every single moment being close to her. Not because of her condition, but I knew I was looking at a piece of history. I saw the Fastest ship in the world, the biggest ship built in America, and a symbol of national pride. I never saw her chipping paint, or any rust. I was able to see her funnels shine, and almost hear the horn and the music as if it were her maiden voyage. I have indeed seen comments about "Mottos to donate money and to stay away from her", but I highly recommend seeing her. If you are one of those people that agree about getting rid of her, I have something to tell you. "Have you even payed any attention to her? Did you know that the SS United States is currently (still) the fastest ship across the Atlantic? If you see a rusty old ship that is a pain to look at, feel ashamed. You are looking at a piece of history, and American Pride. Instead of looking at her in a way that makes you want to get rid of her, Look at her and see what I saw. See the stacks gleam, and see the rust fade away. The SS United States is not ignored, and she is in fact being protected, and looked at by many. Unfortunately, there arent any areas in a constant location to learn about her, and know what she is. The SS United States deserves to get restored, and my I say, God bless the SS United States, and America.

Michael Bryant

Once the pride of the United States Merchant Marine, the SS United States was the largest merchant ship built under the US flag. She entered service in 1952 and maintained a 5 day trans-Atlantic service between New York and the "Old World" until 1969. She was the last Ocean Liner to capture the Blue Ribband and still is to this day the fastest merchant ship ever built. Her steam turbines produced 240,000 horsepower and during her sea trials maintained the unprecedented speed of 38.3 knots. Designed to be both a Naval Auxiliary and an Ocean Liner she was built under complete secrecy. On her maiden voyage she took the eastbound speed record with an average speed of 35.59 knots including averaging more than 36 Knots on the last two of days of the trip. She sailed from Ambrose Lightship to Bishops Rock, England in 3 days 10 hours and 40 minutes. 10 hours faster than Queen Marys best run. Her westbound trip was just as quick at 3 days 12 hours and 12 minutes with an average speed of 34.51 Knots, breaking the westbound record. She never relinquished the Blue Ribband to any of her rivals. If we can save and restore Queen Mary (a British Ship) then certainly we owe it to ourselves as Americans to save United States as she was undoubtedly one of the greatest achievements in maritime history.

Didier Poncelet

Ce merveilleux paquebot nattend que quelques mécènes fortuné pour lui redonner la vie sil mérite car à ce jour il possède toujours le. Dernier rubans bleu attribué à un vrai paquebot de ligne régulière. ESPÉRONS que les Américains saurons se souvenir à temps de le préserver afin de montrer au monde leur savoir-faire extraordinaire unisson nous tous pour le sauver de la destruction.

Rachel Garber

I never had the opportunity to ride this beauty. But I never miss the opportunity to stop by and visit when Im near by. Its such an authentic looking ocean liner, compared to the ugly seagoing hotels that look so interchangeable. What a tribute to the glory days of shipbuilding. I hope someone is able to restore this phenomenal steamship. I have a copy of The Big Ship by Frank O. Braynard from Turner Publishing Company. Among the celebrities and royalties who traveled were the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly, Gary Cooper, Charleton Heston, Kim Novak, Judy Garland and Sid Luft, among others. Today their counterparts fly. Even private jets dont have the cache of traveling aboard an elegant ocean liner.

Will Eaton

As we were driving on the highway through Philadelphia I saw the funnels (smoke stacks) of an enormous ship and I immediately looked it up. The result was a ship named the S.S. United States. This ship was once the crown jewel of the fleet of luxury liners that carried passengers across The Atlantic. It set a speed record that still stands today (around 36 knots). The S.S. United States was the highlight of my time in Philadelphia and you can’t even get that close to it, that’s how amazing it is. The ship is an amazing piece of history and hopefully funds can be raised to help restore it. If you have an opportunity to drive up near it (you can’t get too close) you definitely should, its a great piece of history.

James Wilson

I was a passenger aboard the SS United States about fifty years ago traveling with my family from France to New York. My father was an Army officer on his way to Vietnam. The voyage was one that I will never forget. Soon after that, the ship was put into retirement where she sat for the past half century. A couple years ago I was crossing the Delaware and seen the faded red white and blue smoke stacks. I turned around to check her out. I was amazed. After all these year, she still looked as magnificent as when I first seen her. The paint was peeling and she had a lot of rust, but still floating. I hope we can breathe new life into her. She is worthy of saving as she is very much a part of our American history.