April 21, 2020
Help Guide the Curatorial Vision for the New SS United States
From the SS United States Conservancy Archival Collection, a clipping from the Sunday edition of the New York Daily News , dated June 22, 1952.
As RXR Realty  embarks on a nation-wide search for an optimal location for the redeveloped SS United States , the Conservancy is advancing its plans for a world-class museum and center for innovation aboard the vessel.

The museum will honor the ship's legacy as a pinnacle of technological and artistic achievement, while also exploring broader themes of mid-century design, art, and technology. Your continued support has played such a vital role in getting us to this point, and now is your chance to help guide the next stage of our museum planning process .

CLICK HERE to take the survey and help us preserve and celebrate the legacy of America's magnificent flagship.

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses! If you have any questions — or additional comments, suggestions, or advice that fall outside of the scope of this survey — please don't hesitate to email us at archives@ssusc.org .
Your generosity helps us spread the word about the magnificent SS United States, while supporting our crucial, ongoing curatorial mission.
Help Preserve the Legacy of America's Flagship
"SS United States Berth Day," an original oil painting by maritime artist Bob Semler.
The Conservancy was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of renowned marine artist Bob Semler. Semler was a veteran of the National Guard and graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. The Conservancy has been proud to offer prints of his striking portraits of the Big U through our online gift shop , and we have long admired his moving, incredibly detailed paintings of the vessel.

In an interview with YourObserver.com , Semler remarked that he painted "for the rivet counters." He said, "No matter how obscure you think something is, you can guarantee there’s someone who knows it by heart. And they aren’t afraid to tell you if it’s wrong. When my paintings are on display, I’ll see guys standing there counting bridge windows. But when they tell you they love it, that’s the biggest compliment."

Bob Semler first painted the SS United States as she was transported to her current berth in Philadelphia — a story he recalled in October 1996 for the American Society of Marine Artists:

"When she went by, her starboard side showing her full length — nine hundred and ninety feet, gave me a chill as I tried to imagine the hundred foot difference from her and the Titanic . It took three photos to capture a complete shot of her.

So, now she sits at Pier 96 anticipating her future. Will she be a floating hotel, casino and restaurant such as the beautiful Queen Mary on the West Coast, or will we eventually be shaving with the remains of her in our daily morning ritual? Who knows. But the event, a once in a lifetime opportunity, has been captured to last for the ages."

As we pay our respects to Bob, we are grateful to have his artistic depictions of the SS United States to remember him by. The Conservancy sends our deepest condolences to his loved ones and fellow admirers of his beautiful artwork.
Photo courtesy of Stanton Daywalt.
The SS United States Conservancy is continually moved by the passion, dedication, and generosity of our incredible supporters.

Stanton Daywalt is a lifelong fan of America’s Flagship, as well as a longtime supporter and friend of the Conservancy. In addition to helping us procure various photos and artifacts for our growing permanent collections , he has twice secured a $1,000 grant for the Conservancy through Navy Federal Credit Union's “Dollars for Doers” program.

Stanton recently sent us photos of his lovingly detailed model of the SS United States . The replica features an incredible attention to historical detail, along with such creative flourishes as the initials of the ship's designer, William Francis Gibbs, on the flags attached to the funnels.

CLICK HERE to see detailed photos of Stanton's model, and to read his recollections of crafting this loving tribute to the Big U.
"For me, the SS United States is hallowed ground. She is the crowning achievement of American maritime ingenuity and resolve. She wears her rust and peeling paint like scars from an ongoing battle against the elements, one that she has thus far endured."  —  Peter Knego, Cruise Journalist & Ship Historian