More than 70 years ago, the SS United States, a larger ship than the Titanic, made its maiden voyage across the Atlantic, breaking the transatlantic speed record.
The ocean liner that once carried heads of state and Hollywood elites from New York City to destinations across Europe may soon make history again, this time under the sea as the world’s largest artificial reef off the coast of Florida.
This stately ship, which once graced the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and John F. Kennedy, could soon be home to sea turtles, starfish and groupers.
On Tuesday, local officials and the SS United States Conservancy announced that the Okaloosa County, Florida, Board of County Commissioners approved a contingent contract to acquire the SS United States and sink it off Destin-Fort Walton Beach in the Panhandle.
The agreement also includes funding from the county to establish a land-based museum dedicated to the ship, which will be operated by the conservancy.
“The SS U.S.A. has inspired millions of people around the world as a symbol of American pride and excellence,” Susan Gibbs, president of the SS U.S. Conservancy, said in a news release. . “Converting the world’s fastest ship into the world’s largest artificial reef will mark a new chapter for the SS USA as a world-class destination.”
Currently moored on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, the ship has been struggling for more than a decade to find a new floating home. The conservation group that acquired the ship in 2011 supported the idea of permanently mooring it as a waterfront mixed-use development. Their efforts failed.
This summer, a federal court ordered the ship to be removed from a Philadelphia pier, and the ship’s future requires an immediate solution.
Gibbs, whose grandfather William Francis Gibbs designed the ship, discussed the idea of turning the ship into an artificial reef in an interview with the New York Times. Undersea. Gibbs acknowledged there was “something poignant” about the ship helping marine life thrive and providing fun for divers, but ultimately downplayed the idea.
But in a news release earlier this week, Gibbs expressed confidence that Okaloosa County officials appreciate the historical significance of the SS United States, saying the reef project is an “alternative to scrapping the ship for parts.” He emphasized that.
The conservancy acknowledged in an Instagram post that the plan could be “extremely difficult” for local communities, but the museum would allow public access to ship parts, archives and curatorial collections. He also shared his “ambitious” ideas. It’s a group of supporters who have fought for years to keep the ship afloat.
The SS United States, also known as “America’s Flagship” or “The Big U,” was designed as a top-secret Cold War weapon capable of transporting 14,000 soldiers. But the 990-foot ship was as luxurious as it was rugged and fast, with 395 staterooms and 14 first-class suites, complete with a Steinway grand piano.
Passengers on the SS United States, which made its maiden voyage in July 1952, included four U.S. presidents: Bob Hope, John Wayne, and Marilyn Monroe (including a young Bill Clinton). The ship was featured in several movies, including Walt Disney’s “Bon Voyage!” ” and “A Gentleman Marries a Brunette.” He was seen from above in the opening credits of “West Side Story.” The Mona Lisa was once on display as well.
However, with the rise of jet travel, the ship faced financial difficulties in the 1960s and its popularity declined, leading to its permanent mooring in 1969.
The SS United States still faces a long and winding road to its future home. Alex Fogg, Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s natural resources director, said the deal could close in the next few weeks, but whether court-imposed arbitration in connection with the federal lawsuit is completed. He said that it depends on.
Even after the deal is finalized, the ship will still need to undergo extensive environmental remediation, scheduled to be completed in Norfolk, Virginia, before it can be deployed to the Florida coast.
The specific resting place in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area also remains unclear, but Fogg said there are several potential sites to consider and county officials will seek input from the local community before making a decision. He said he would ask.
Fogg said once the process is complete, he expects local tourism to boom as people travel from all over the world to visit the historic ship, even underwater.
“It’s going to attract a lot of people who want to dive Everest,” Fogg said, likening the future SS America experience to climbing the highest mountain on Earth at sea level. “They want to be able to say they’ve dived the largest artificial reef in the world.”
