March 24, 2020
Courtesy of RXR Realty, a conceptual rendering of the revitalized SS  United States .
Two weeks ago, we shared some very exciting news:  RXR Realty , a prominent commercial real estate development firm, announced further progress regarding its plans to restore and redevelop America's Flagship, in partnership with the SS United States Conservancy.

RXR seeks to repurpose the vessel as a permanently-moored floating structure, anchored by a hotel program and a collection of unique hospitality and cultural spaces in the 600,000 square feet available for development. Those offerings would include a world class museum honoring the ship’s history and exploring mid-century design, art and innovation. Details of RXR's plans can be found  HERE . 

 The story, which was first reported by Bloomberg News , has now been picked up by media outlets across the country, including:


In additional to extensive national coverage, word of this latest announcement has resonated around the globe, with international outlets including the UK's Business Traveller and Italy's FarodiRoma reporting the news.

On the heels of this glowing coverage, the Conservancy has been able to expand our audience in a big way. On Facebook alone, our updates reached well over 75,000 people in a single week! On a related note, we are also pleased to announce that we now have more 22,000 followers on our Facebook page. We extend our deepest gratitude to those of you who helped spread the word about the Big U during these last two weeks.
Courtesy of Corbis Images, Dr. Jonas Salk (inventor of the polio vaccine) and his family pose for a photo aboard America's Flagship.
Of course, we would be remiss if we did not also acknowledge the current crisis that now faces our country. The COVID–19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of millions worldwide. Not only is the public health of paramount concern ... we also face a great deal of social and economic uncertainty.

In trying times such as these, national symbols such as the SS United States are more important than ever. The Big U is a living reminder of our collective fortitude, resilience, and imagination. Just as she proudly traversed the Atlantic time and time again — undeterred by storms or dark, cloudy, and endless nights — so, too, will our nation emerge from our current rough patch stronger than ever.

While we aren't entirely out of troubled waters just yet, we are now closer than ever to giving the SS United States the bright future she so richly deserves. Read on to learn how you can get involved in this crucial, patriotic effort to preserve America's Flagship.
" The Big U is an iconic symbol of the age when we built and did big things, and hopefully, the potential will not be squandered. "  —  Wayne Yanda, Anamosa, IA
A preview of our newly redesigned website, which you can visit at SSUSC.org .
To coincide with last week's announcement concerning the SS United States ' redevelopment and revitalization, we were proud to unveil our renewed and revitalized website.

To improve the experience of our supporters, we have outfitted the site with a cleaner, easier-to-navigate interface. With this new design, we've also consolidated information that was formerly scattered across multiple domains (including wearetheunitedstates.org , which you can feel free to remove from your bookmarks).

SSUSC.org is now set up to convey news as quickly as possible to all our supporters, while making it easier to access important information, make donations, and shop for Big U-related merchandise. With these changes, we're confident our current supporters will have a much more satisfying experience, while new members will be that much more likely to come aboard.

CLICK HERE to check out the newly redesigned SSUSC.org.
" You can’t set her on fire, you can’t sink her, and you can’t catch her. "  —  William Francis Gibbs, Designer of the SS  United States  (1886-1967)
Artistic rendering of a future shipboard museum space.
As mentioned earlier in this update, RXR's plan for the redeveloped SS United States would include a world class museum honoring the ship’s history and exploring mid-century design, art, and innovation.

With support from our generous donors, the Conservancy will create an exciting immersive experience for visitors to the ship that will recreate some of the most iconic shipboard locations. We will also continue to expand our permanent collections, develop additional traveling and temporary exhibitions, launch an oral history initiative, and design educational modules that explore the role of the SS  United States  in the context of Cold War history, labor relations, maritime transportation, immigration, race and ethnicity, and other themes which are indelibly linked to America's Flagship.

In the coming weeks, we will be circulating a survey asking for your input on our curatorial plans. We could never have come this far without your support, and we look forward to hearing your ideas as we move into this exciting next phase. Keep an eye on your email inbox, as we'll be sending you a link soon!

In the meantime, we greatly appreciate your generous donations , which will help us advance our vitally important curatorial mission. We are continually and eternally grateful for your continued support!
Help Us Preserve the Legacy of America's Flagship!