Thanks for all the guesses, both in comments and on email. Last week I accompanied a group of journalists invited on board. The word from the SS United States Conservancy is that the need for action is urgent; the project is running a critical “race against time.” Here are a few key facts about the vessel from the conservancy website. This is the first of several posts I intend to do. Click here for an Op-Ed piece written by one of the guides on our tour Susan Gibbs, grand daughter of the the vessel’s designer, architect, and creator.
Note the unique “sampan wing” tips on the funnels.
This is midships looking aft in the First Class corridor, as it looks today. To the left, you can see the deck “footprints” of suites, including where the plumbing rested.
This section of the “First Class stairs,” like the entire interior is stripped to bare metal.
Use your imagination . . . this is the First class ballroom, where Count Basie and other greats played.
This is the port side promenade deck. (Follow the links there.) Too enclosed, you think? You’d want it enclosed for a passage in the North Atlantic in January as she speeds along at nearly 40 mph.
All fotos by Will Van Dorp. Click here for David Macaulay’s blog about the vessel that brought him to the United States.
For more info on the the SS United States Conservancy and their efforts to save the ship via repurposing, click here. More soon . . . if not tomorrow.
By the way, in yesterday’s post, the first three fotos were as follows: 1955 Packard Clipper Super, a 1941 Cadillac Series 75 hearse, and a 1955 Buick Road Master . . . all contemporaries of the SS United States.
Many thanks to the Conservancy for the opportunity to tour the vessel. If you have personal stories related to the vessel, please consider adding them to the comments.
tugster: a waterblog 
8 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 20, 2014 at 8:15 pm
Anonymous
I hope to God that someone can save this old girl.
January 20, 2014 at 8:43 pm
tugster
i hope we can, anon. i think it’s a question of our national resolve. bill clinton said . . .(and i paraphrase) “would we neglect the Statue of Liberty or the Liberty Bell as this vessel has been neglected?” and he’s on target . . . we wouldn’t. some might say that Olympia–just to the north a few miles–needs saving also. keep in mind that SS United States was designed as a dual-purpose vessel, civilian liner and Department of Defense fast troopship in an age pre-dating mass transportation by air.
January 20, 2014 at 8:54 pm
Ken
It think the Olympia is more of a shame considering some of the circumstances I heard around it. The SS United States is neglect. The Olympia had greed mixed in. Both should be saved however.
January 20, 2014 at 10:00 pm
mageb
We all hope she can be saved.
January 21, 2014 at 6:19 am
Chris Williams
I second the thoughts about saving both Olympia and United States. Both represent significant chapters in our maritime heritage. In addition, I’d heartily recommend reading “A Man and His Ship” for a perspective on William Francis Gibbs, who in addition to being the “Father” of the United States led the firm that made significant contributions to naval and commercial vessels and in particular to marine steam plants back in the day. The 600 psi steam plant that powered “31 knot (Arleigh) Burke” and his squadron of Fletcher class destroyers came from a Gibbs and Cox design influence.
January 21, 2014 at 10:59 am
Allen Baker
I wish I could be more optimistic about the future of UNITED STATES and other ships worthy of preservation, but based on past and current experiences, I simply do not see it happening.
There are museum vessels afloat now that are having difficulties staying viable. Interest wanes as the years pass by and frankly, I just do not see the youth of today interested in historical ship preservation.
Provided below is a link to a story in The Baltimore Sun from 2010 and my brush with The Big Ship. I considered it one of the highlights of my career in escorting UNITED STATES to what very might well be her last voyage home.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-03-21/news/bal-md.backstory21mar21_1_tug-ship-new-orleans
January 21, 2014 at 1:40 pm
tugster
thanks to all. more ss US soon.
January 21, 2014 at 2:04 pm
james schubert
A Maritime graduate friend told of operating the signal lite on a battered & rust streaked small destroyer returning to home port after a long deployment.They saw the United States coming out for sea trials & he didn’t know what to a say so he blinked “Welcome to the North Atlantic.”The answer was “Nice to be in such good company”