CHAPTERS TAKE ACTIVE ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING,
RESTORING BIG U ARTIFACTS

Fire Extinguisher, Other Artifacts Restored Through Volunteer Preservation Efforts
The Conservancy is deeply grateful for its strong supporter base across the country and around the world. This is especially true for our chapters, which provide regional support for the organization and work closely with Conservancy staff to recruit members, fundraise, and raise local awareness about the SS United States. Additionally, Chapters hold social hours to engage members and celebrate the Big Ship!

Two of our most active chapters, New York and Hampton Roads, have also assisted the Conservancy's curatorial team in identifying and preserving historic artifacts associated with America's Flagship for display in our future shipboard museum.

Recently, the Hampton Roads Chapter shared their work restoring an Essanay soda and acid fire extinguisher (pictured above). These extinguishers worked by mixing 1.5 lbs. of bicarbonate of soda (baking powder) with water in the main cylinder. A 4 oz. bottle of sulfuric acid was placed at the top in a metal cage. CLICK HERE to read more about how this extinguisher works. The Hampton Roads Chapter also recently shared their acquisition of a pamphlet and paperwork rack that was originally mounted in the Travel Office on the Main Deck, port side. The rack came off the ship in 1992 and has been restored to its original dark green color. CLICK HERE to read more about this acquisition.
New York Chapter co-chair Glenn Lappin recently restored a fill port from one of the ship's lifeboats, which he discovered aboard the vessel as part of the Conservancy's ongoing preservation inventory efforts. Lappin recovered the fill port from a workshop in the bow of the Big U. Constructed by the Welin Davit Boat Company of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the lifeboats, like the SS United States, were also made entirely from aluminum, reducing their weight and allowing for ease of handling in case of an emergency. Along with having canned rations, lifeboats for the SS United States' lifeboats also had tanks on the port and starboard sides under the benches that would be accessed by a fill port. Had this fill port not been in the workshop at the time of the ship’s withdrawal from service, it likely would have been lost to history. The fill port is now stored in the Conservancy's curatorial collection and awaits its return to the Big U as part of our future shipboard museum.
SALUTING THE BIG U'S TRAILBLAZING WOMEN DURING 
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND BEYOND
 
Women Made Major Contributions to the SS United States' Design, Engineering, and Art
Throughout Women’s History Month, the Conservancy has been celebrating the formidable women associated with America’s Flagship on our social media. First, there is, of course, the ship herself, which commonly – at least in the English language – is assigned she/her pronouns. 

Beyond the vessel, the challenge of creating the ship's luxurious mid-century modern interior spaces was met by an ace team of women designers – led by Dorothy Marckwald and Anne Urquhart. These talented and accomplished women commissioned works from other female artists, such as Gwen Lux’s “Expressions of Freedom,” Hildreth Meiere’s “The Mississippi: Father of Waters,” and Mira Jebwadnik van Doren’s vitreous enameled tabletops (pictured here) and plaques of North American birds. 

The firm that designed America's Flagship - Gibbs & Cox - also welcomed many women within its ranks, including Elaine Kaplan, who played a pivotal role in designing the SS United States’ vaunted propellers.  

You can explore the impact of women on America' Flagship even after Women's History Month ends. Watch Louise Meiere Dunn's "Maiden Voyage Reflections" on our YouTube channel. Read Conservancy President Susan Gibbs' 2021 reflections on Women's History Month on our website, and explore our "Transatlantic Trailblazer's" digital exhibition.

MORE FROM THE SS UNITED STATES CONSERVANCY
The Conservancy frequently receives a wide range of inquiries from supporters, ship enthusiasts, researchers and the media.

To help address these frequently asked questions, we have published a new page on our website, which details how we are uniting people around the world to save this irreplaceable American icon. If you have additional questions, you can always email info@ssusc.org.
This delicious blend of higher-end Brazilian coffees was created by Ironclad Coffee Roasters of Richmond, Virginia. This coffee was created not only in honor of the SS United States, but also as a tribute to Philip Rourke, the grandfather of Ironclad founders, who worked as a welder aboard the Big U.

The Conservancy will receive 25% of all proceeds from coffee purchases to help save America’s Flagship.
 
THE BIG U CONTINUES TO INSPIRE...

"As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s not forget America’s Flagship and all of the women who contributed to making her so extraordinary and all the women whose lives she touched."
- Conservancy President Susan Gibbs