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.

THIS IS WHY THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL APPEAL IS SO CRITICAL. PLEASE CONSIDER RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND MAKING YOUR YEAR-END TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION.

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+.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE CONSERVANCY'S SUCCESSES THIS YEAR.

Our curatorial team continues to mount fascinating digital exhibitions. These provide a wonderful way to showcase and share the ship’s extraordinary history and help us plan our future 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! 

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.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL 2022 ANNUAL APPEAL.

All donors at $25 and above will receive a dazzling die-cut SS United States decal pictured below!

THE BIG U CONTINUES TO INSPIRE...

"The SS United States still has many forgotten stories to tell, and that’s why she desperately needs to be saved... I don’t think I would ever forget taking a tour of the SS United States, because even in her empty condition, she is still full of the life and memories of her decades past at sea.”

- Julian Sukel, 70th Anniversary Writing Contest Winner