MUSEUM PLANNING BEGINS IN MOBILE

The SS United States has braved uncharted waters over the past few months, but she remains a symbol of resilience as she undergoes new changes. Currently docked in Mobile, Alabama, she continues to attract media attention as she is being prepared for her next life below the sea and for being honored and celebrated in our future museum.

Mobile’s NBC 15 news recently covered the Conservancy museum and visitor center plans, which will incorporate a number of the ship’s signature features in its design, including her iconic funnels, radar mast, stem anchor, and more. Recent footage of the SS United States including some of the shipboard artifacts earmarked for the future museum, can be seen HERE.

Soundings Magazine also covered the ship’s journey to Mobile, including an interview with Conservancy President Susan Gibbs. The SS United States had not gone to sea since 1996, and many were worried about the ship’s ability to withstand the long journey from Philadelphia to Mobile. As America’s Flagship finally arrived in Alabama under tow, Gibbs reflected on how powerful it was to see her once again in her element: “That was a beautiful thing, after all this time... She still had it.” 

SEE THE SS UNITED STATES IN MOBILE, ALABAMA

In Mobile, Alabama, the SS United States is making a splash. National Public Radio's Marketplace reported on the great local interest in the ship as she draws former passengers and new admirers. Once she becomes the world’s largest artificial reef off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, she is projected to generate an annual $5 million in economic impact to the region.

A popular ongoing attraction is the Perdido Queen, a riverboat offering cruises with close-up views of the ship as part of a guided tour of the Mobile River. Tours will run through the summer of 2025. For your opportunity to observe America’s Flagship as she prepares to depart for her next voyage, click HERE to book your cruise tickets!

NEW DIGITAL EXHIBIT COMING SOON!

What do former passengers remember most about the SS United States? The food, of course!

We are very excited to share their vivid memories of "giant pancakes," "blueberries and cream," and more from the Conservancy’s extensive collection of images, artifacts, and other historical materials.

This photo from our collection, donated in 2019 by Alan Bradshaw, shows a family of four enjoying a meal aboard the SS United States. Our upcoming digital exhibit, “Food Tastes Better at Sea: Dining Aboard the SS United States,” will highlight aspects of food culture, memory, history, and technology, including the SS United States’ new technologies to store and prepare food at sea. Launching May 27, 2025, this exhibit is not to be missed!