August 17, 2019
As we work to keep America's Flagship safely afloat and advance plans for her revitalization, the SS United States Conservancy is also committed to preserving the legacy of the nation's sole remaining — and most iconic — ocean liner. Part of that mission includes acquiring items from and related to the SS United States and United States Lines for future public display and educational outreach.
 
To that end, the Conservancy is excited to announce the donation of an exceptional artifact — a monumental stationary bike odometer from the SS United States ’ gymnasium — to our growing collection.
The stationary bike odometer donated by Arlan Ettinger.
Photo courtesy of Guernsey's.
This special item was generously donated by Arlan Ettinger. As President of Guernsey's Auction House, Ettinger managed the 1984 auction of the SS United States ' interiors, furnishings and furniture for the vessel's former owner. The auction in Norfolk, VA, still stands as the largest auction ever held. Regarding his recent generous donation, Ettinger said:
 
"I am pleased to donate this special item to the SS United States Conservancy for eventual display aboard the refurbished vessel. As expressed in the original Guersey's auction catalogue, every object from the SS  United States  'encompasses a portion of American culture, a sample of American ingenuity and a bit of American history.' I am honored to be able to return this artifact to this unique, all-American ship."

We look forward to the day when, thanks to Arlan Ettinger’s generosity, the odometer can be displayed in a shipboard museum on the restored SS  United States .

Do you own artwork, objects or photographs from America's Flagship that you might be willing to donate? Reach out to us a t  [email protected] . 
#FlagshipFacts  — The SS United States could travel for 10,000 miles without stopping for fuel. She was also designed to transport 15,000 troops in the event of war.
On July 20, the Conservancy was delighted to host a special "Blue Riband anniversary" tour of the SS United States for former passengers, crew, and their families. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with all our guests and talking about their individual relationships with the ship.

Today, we're delighted to share the story of one of those former passengers, Liz Waters. As the winner of our recent Blue Riband Month social media contest, Liz was invited (along with her mother, Ingrid Royle) to join this exclusive tour.

As an 11-month-old infant, she joined her mother and father on a westbound voyage from Bremerhaven to New York — leaving Germany to begin a new life in the United States. While all of Liz's memories of her journey are second-hand, she has an amazing story to tell.
Photo of Liz Waters and her mother, Ingrid Royle, aboard the SS United States .
On her way to her new home in America, Liz took her first steps aboard America's Flagship.

" Every time it seemed like I would fall, the ship would rise up to catch me and keep me upright," she said. "That's probably why I love being on the water to this day. I got my sea legs from the Big U!"

Needless to say, the opportunity to step foot on the vessel again decades later was a deeply emotional experience.

"My mom and I felt enormously privileged and excited about being able to board her again 55 years later," she said. "Even though I was so young, I still feel a strong connection to her. She is deserving of restoration and preservation because her journey is not over yet."

CLICK HERE to read more of Liz's reflections on the SS United States and her personal connection to the ship (and to see more photos from her tour).
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Help Us Save America's Flagship!
Image courtesy of artist Gordon Bauwens.
Scottish and international maritime artist, Gordon Bauwens, is renowned for accuracy and great detail in his paintings of notable ships of the 20th and 21st Centuries. His works can be found in museums, galleries, shipyards, offices, and private collections in over 30 countries around the world.

The Conservancy is delighted to announce Bauwens' release of 150 Museum-quality Giclee Limited Edition art prints of his painting, " SS United States ."

This breathtaking portrait captures the Big U departing from New York Harbor, circa 1960.

" Having considered various locations, I felt it appropriate to show the liner departing her home port of New York, in all her glory," Bauwens said.

The painting was commissioned by a client from Budapest, Hungary, who requested an original oil painting of the SS  United States  as a special birthday present for her husband.

"The SS  United States , affectionately also known as the Big U, was always one of his favorite passenger liners, and a vessel I, too, had always had a great admiration for," Bauwens said.

"She has rightly earned her place in maritime history as the fastest and most powerful liner ever to be built."

Reproduced as 150 Limited Edition Giclee prints + 10 Artist Proofs, each one is printed on museum-quality, German watercolor paper using lightfast inks rated 75+ years. Each has its own Certificate of Authenticity and is signed & numbered by the artist. 

GB Marine Art , the artist’s family-run business of almost 30 years, is proud to support the SS United States Conservancy by donating $10 for each print sold.

For more details (and to order one of these prints directly from the artist), please visit  www.gbmarineart.com  and see the Prints Gallery.
 
Dear Conservancy Supporters:

This year, we have made important strides toward our goal of saving the SS United States and redeveloping her as a stationary, mixed-use development and museum. As you know, the Conservancy has entered into a preliminary agreement with RXR Realty : a qualified, respected New York-based real estate firm.

As we have conveyed previously, RXR is conducting a complex process of assessing the opportunity to redevelop the vessel. While the ship's prospects are encouraging, additional assessments are ongoing as RXR evaluates the various technical challenges associated with the ship's potential adaptive reuse. We look forward to sharing a more detailed update on this process as soon as we are in a position to do so.

Meanwhile, we are forging ahead in advancing our curatorial and archival mission. We are committed to locating and acquiring significant artifacts and ephemera from the ship for exhibits and educational programming. We are also working to develop future exhibits that celebrate the SS United States ' iconic historical significance within a context of mid-century modern art and design and post-war American history.

This work is only possible with your support. We'd like to thank every one of our supporters for your generous contributions and help spreading the word about America's Flagship and her inspirational, unforgettable legacy. We remain steadfast in our commitment to giving the SS United States her long-awaited, glorious second act.

If you haven't done so recently, please consider contributing to our efforts by renewing your Conservancy membership with a generous donation, scheduling a recurring monthly contribution, joining a local chapter , or asking your employer about matching donations . Your financial support is indispensable as we work to preserve the Big U and her soaring legacy for generations to come.

My deepest gratitude,

Susan Gibbs
President
SS United States Conservancy
"[The SS United States ] was built at a time when 'made in America’ really meant something, and that is a legacy that cannot be lost."  — H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest (1930-2018)