Dear SS United States Supporter:

Seventy years ago, the SS United States steamed into history, and today you are a vibrant part of her story. America’s Flagship remains safely and proudly afloat because of your continued support.

Despite the lingering global health pandemic and ongoing economic volatility, the Conservancy has never stopped advancing its mission to protect the SS United States, preserve and celebrate this great symbol of our country, and advance a redevelopment plan that will bring her to life again for future generations.

REDEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES To advance

As another year nears a close, we are happy to report that our partnership with RXR Realty continues to progress. The Conservancy is working closely with RXR’s team, their development partners, and a wide range of technical experts on some exciting potential opportunities for the ship’s future as a mixed-use destination and dynamic shipboard museum.

NEW HEADWINDS AND A POSSIBLE NEW HOME

While we believe that the post-COVID economy will provide opportunities for RXR to advance the SS United States’ redevelopment, we are navigating some challenging headwinds that only your support can help us overcome.

A dispute with our current landlord over a sudden and unexpected doubling of our rent arose last year. We have been urgently attempting to mitigate this situation, thus far without success. We have also been informed that Pier 82, along with several others along the Philadelphia waterfront, have been slated for redevelopment. These challenges are making it increasingly likely that the ship will need to be moved for the first time in over 25 years.

The resolution of our rent dispute and the cost of a possible ship move will impose major new costs for the Conservancy in 2023.

You can also give a Conservancy membership this holiday season. We enclosed a special 70th Anniversary Certificate that you can fill out to give to a friend, family member or colleague as you donate online or via check using the enclosed envelope.

In the coming months, the Conservancy will continue exploring alternate locations for the vessel, conducting engineering studies, hiring specialists, and coordinating with government agencies as we pursue all available options for a possible ship move to keep our Flagship safely afloat.

Though these daunting challenges bring with them great risks, we are excited to continue to plan our shipboard museum and work with RXR to advance redevelopment. Your help is vital to the Conservancy’s continued success.

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE KEEPING THE SHIP SAFE AND SECURE

With your help, the Conservancy continues to care for the vessel to protect her from the natural consequences of weather conditions on the waterfront. This year, we replaced lines, acquired a new fuel pump, and upgraded our generator. We also installed new energy-efficient lighting to help facilitate special supporter tours and illuminate the ship for special occasions.

INTEREST IN THE SHIP HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER

Thanks to your continued support of our efforts, interest in the SS United States has never greater. Our celebration of the 70th anniversary of the ship’s record-breaking maiden voyage increased the size of our global community.

So far this year, the Conservancy has reached more than 2.5 million people with exciting videos, images, and events online about America’s Flagship. The ship was the subject of several robust magazine features this year in Shipping Magazine and the Titanic International Society’s Voyage 120.

In December, the SS United States will be the subject of a new mini documentary for Discovery Science that will stream globally on Discovery+.

Proving that America’s Flagship still is a ‘beacon of hope’ and courage, the ship received major media attention for being a profound inspiration to local police officer Antonio Ellis as he fought a near-death battle with COVID-19. In July, he toured the ship and told his inspiring story on camera to the news media.

In conjunction with the ship’s 70th Anniversary, we initiated a Maiden Voyage Reflections video series with passengers and others connected with the triumphal crossing that captured the world’s attention. Those videos and others have been viewed more than 20,000 times.

Our digital exhibition and events associated with “Transatlantic Trailblazers: The Women Behind the Arts and Engineering of the SS United States” were another big success. Our exhibitions provide a wonderful way for people to learn about the ship’s extraordinary history, and they also aid us in planning our future physical displays in our shipboard museum.

We are excited to announce that our next exhibition will be entitled, “Food Tastes Better at Sea: Dining Aboard the SS United States”. Drawing on holdings from the Conservancy’s extensive collection, the exhibition will highlight aspects of food culture, memory, history, and technology, including differences in cuisine among the classes, how food was part of the growing competition with the airline industry, and how the SS United States utilized new technologies to store and prepare food at sea. Stay tuned for an official launch date and exciting exhibition events!

The Conservancy received many wonderful artifacts from the ship this year including vintage home movie footage taken onboard the ship, a pair of wool deck chair blankets in pristine condition, and many personal mementos and photographs. Perhaps the most fortuitous acquisitions, given the theme of our next digital exhibition, were a complete silver coffee service, vintage stemware, egg holders, and several ship menus. From paper ephemera, to textiles, to a literal galley sink, our collection continues to grow. We cannot wait to share more of it with you in the near future.

Without You, None of This is possible

Because of your generosity, people around the world know America’s Flagship endures as a powerful symbol of the nation’s strength, resiliency, and our potential to unify in the face of adversity.

Please donate today and recommit to being a part of her story. This coming year will present challenges that require us to redouble our efforts. Thank you for all you have done for the SS United States. You’re saving America’s one and only Flagship.

With Gratitude,

Susan Gibbs
President
SS United States Conservancy