Whether it’s with our popular baseball caps and lapel pins, or our new polo shirt, ship enthusiasts are always wearing something that shows off their passion for America’s Flagship. Now an exciting new contest will help our supporters from around the world wear their hearts on their sleeves! 

We’re pleased to announce that the Conservancy is launching a special t-shirt contest to help mark the 70th anniversary of the record-breaking maiden voyage of the SS United States. Starting on Monday, April 4, and running through Sunday, May 29, ship enthusiasts, artists and designers of all ages and ability levels are encouraged to submit a design that will be featured on special anniversary t-shirts that will be sold this year to support our work to save this inspiring symbol of the nation. 

Complete contest rules and more information about the maiden voyage can be found below. 

CONTEST RULES: 

• All designs must be submitted by emailing info@ssusc.org, along with the artist’s name, phone number, and email address.

• Designs submitted from entrants under the age of 18 must include a parent or guardian’s contact information. 

• Contestants may submit up to two designs and each design should incorporate “70th Anniversary” in some fashion. 

•  All design submissions become property of the SS United States Conservancy and must follow the specifications below. 

  • File Type: PNG or JPEG 

  • Resolution: 150 to 300 DPI

  • File Size: Up to 200MB

  • Color Profile: Files should be saved as RGB color profile sRGB IEC61966-2.1.

PRIZES:

• One Grand Prize winner will receive a professionally photographed tour of the SS United States at her berth in Philadelphia with the images provided, recognition in Conservancy publications (if desired), and special acknowledgement during this year’s Conservancy Virtual Gala.

• Two runner-up entries will receive a gift basket of unique items, recognition in Conservancy publications (if desired), and acknowledgement during this year’s Conservancy Virtual Gala.

FAST FACTS ABOUT THE SS UNITED STATES

Five days before her maiden voyage in July 1952, the SS United States was opened to the public at her berth in New York. Some 70,000 people turned out to see the dazzling new ship that day – more than a sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium! The line to go aboard stretched for fourteen blocks.

For her maiden voyage, the SS United States stocked 7,935 quarts of ice cream and a whopping 500 pounds of caviar.

Thanks to her reduced weight and powerful engines, the SS United States could go almost as fast in reverse as the Titanic could go forward.

On her maiden voyage, the SS United States shattered the trans-Atlantic speed record in both directions. She was the first American ship in 100 years to capture the coveted Blue Riband (awarded to the fastest trans-Atlantic ocean liner). Amazingly, she still holds the record more than 60 years later.

CLICK HERE to read more interesting and inspiring facts about the SS United States.

ABOUT THE MAIDEN VOYAGE: 

On the day of her departure, July 3, 1952, the ship was fully booked with 1,700 passengers, including Vincent Astor, Margaret Truman, and Sara Roosevelt. Commanded by Commodore Harry Manning, during the voyage, ship designer William Francis Gibbs stood a near-constant vigil on the bridge, carefully monitoring the Big U's fuel consumption and speed. 

When the ship tore past Bishop Rock at 6:16am on the morning of July 7, 1952, she had captured the Blue Riband of the Atlantic from the Cunard liner, the RMS Queen Mary, achieving an astonishing average speed of 35.59 knots, with a sailing time of 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes.

Read more and watch archival footage by CLICKING HERE