While exiting Ikea in South Philly yesterday I could not believe my eyes as I looked across the parking lot and saw an ancient cruise ship docked just across the street. A spectre of vintage travel looming quietly, just waiting for passengers to disembark from the past. I snapped a quick photo with my phone and saw the words United States barely visible on her hull. 
Visions of the Titanic, and the golden age of cruise ships sprang to mind. I immediately thought of the photos I had seen of the SS Normandie cruise ship, tipped over on her side in the water off of New York City. I just had to find out what this mystery ship was.
(thanks to @nyycarl07 on Twitter for the image!)
According to Wikipedia the SS United States is a passenger liner built in 1952, and remains the largest ocean liner built entirely in the United States. It is also the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in either direction, and remains current holder of the Blue Riband, given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest speed. The United States operated in transatlantic passenger service until 1969, and since 1996 has been docked at Pier 82 on the Delaware River in Philadelphia.
It was interesting to learn that I was not the only one to think of the SS Normandie – which capsized in the New York Passenger Ship Terminal after catching fire just 10 years before the SS US was built -in association with the SS United States. To minimize the risk of fire occurring in the SS United States, the ships designers used no wood in the ship’s framing, accessories, decorations or interior surfaces. The clothes hangers in the luxury cabins were aluminum, the ballroom’s grand piano was of a rare, fire-resistant wood species, and the construction of the ship’s superstructure involved the largest use of aluminum in any construction project to that time.
If you want to learn more about the efforts to save the ship, check this website. This vintage vessel is for sale – if only we could sail back in time in it! I can hear the strains of the live music playing in the ballroom now, just thinking about it.
UPDATES!
Thanks to @guerilladrivein on Twitter for the link to the below video:
From Shipgeek on Youtube:
n 1964, former SS United States purser Jim Green returned to the ship as a passenger for a West Indies cruise along with his beloved wife Frieda. Here, set to the music of the ship’s own orchestra, is a nostalgic journey back to 1964.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5o8xlVhN4E]
Also here’s a link to Shipgeek’s own collection of wonderful memorabilia from the SS United States- some really neat stuff there!
And finally, here’s a link to the SS United States Conservancy – the premiere nonprofit working diligently toward the preservation of the ship and her legacy.
The SS United States
Pier 84
Philadelphia PA
[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=205983026516839309869.00048746173181bd0dc2a&ll=39.981329,-75.129318&spn=0.182572,0.291824&z=11&iwloc=0004882acab9fcf6d94b1&output=embed&w=425&h=350]
I too have passed by the United States many times when I lived in Philadelphia. From what I have read, the interior of the ship was completely gutted as it was supposed to be sold for scrap. Therefore, restoring the ship would be outrageously expensive. But it is sad to see it just sitting there and rusting away.
Mark- According to Wikipedia “In 1984, the ship’s remaining fittings and furniture were sold at auction in Norfolk. Some of the furniture now represents a substantial portion of the interior of Windmill Point, a restaurant in Nags Head, North Carolina. These items include dining room tables and chairs in the main restaurant and the bar and lounge tables and chairs in the upstairs lounge as well as other items.” I may just have to check out Windmill Point!
It would be expensive to restore it, but I think it just screams adaptive re-use, or something.
The thought of a once grand United States now dry docked and rusting away is too sad, and too symbolic!
Betty, THANKS for pointing this out — I had *no idea*. Wow, what a location for a movie, huh?
An Affair To Remember? Titanic? Ghost Ship? Poseidon Adventure? Keep me in the loop and glad I could share this with everyone!
What a treasure, and what a shame it was gutted.
Yea, I just put Windmill Point on my to-go-to list as well.
If you get there before me let me know how it is!
I am saddened to report that the Windmill Point Restaurant in Nags Head, NC is closed.
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/08/investor-sought-keep-nc-restaurant-site-going
I had the privelage of dining there once back in 1996 or so, when I was in the Navy stationed in Norfolk, VA. Being a fan of the SS United States, I med the long drive down with my girlfriend (now wife) and was amazed by the SS United States memorabilia.
We dined on tables, sat on chairs and I believe even ate off of original ships china and flatware. And the food was spectacular too!
Jim- thanks for letting me know, I will update the post. Glad you were able to visit and see the memorabilia before they closed, that sounds like a treat especially being a fan of the ship! I wonder what happened to the memorabilia?
UPDATE! Hooray! Thanks to kind contributor and ship scholar shipgeek I am happy to report:
“Not to worry, the collection was donated intact to the Mariners’ Museum.
It’s a pretty significant collection, and it’s good that it wasn’t
sold off piecemeal and scattered across the globe.”
You can see a photo of a fork that was purportedly used by Cary Grant on the SS United States, part of the collection at The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News VA right here:
http://www.mariner.org/content/artifact-month-test-fork
Thanks for the video – that was fantastic!
The 1st episode of last season’s Cold Case (“The Crossing”) took place on a ship clearly based on the SS US. They changed the name to the SS Americana for the show. Unfortunately, the YouTube clip has been removed.
Oh, how interesting! I’m fascinated by that ship, for sure (shore?!)
I had the joy of sailing to Europe on the United States. Fabulous time.
Barry – that sounds wonderful! Would love to hear the details, as I’m sure other RetroRoadmap readers would too!