A Ship's Worth of Stories to Tell

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FLAGSHIP STORIES SERIES SHARES FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS OF THE

SS UNITED STATES AT SEA

YouTube Video Series Features Riveting Shipboard Recollections of Former Passengers and Crew

In May, we invited a number of former passengers and crew members aboard America's Flagship for a special series of tours. Participants walked the decks of the Big U, many retracing the steps they took during their memorable voyages decades ago.

Tour participants shared first-hand accounts about travel and life on board the Big U and were recorded on camera by the Conservancy's trusted videographer Bill Magee. The Conservancy is committed to preserving and sharing such stories so future generations will understand and appreciate what the ship meant to the nation and to those who traveled on her.

Among the unique musings shared was that of former passenger Tim Murray, who remembered seeing one of his first movies, Disney's "The Jungle Book," in the theater. Former passenger Emjay Pratt shared that her student group held a party the night before they docked in Europe, with many of the young revelers staying up all night and watching the tugboats tow the ship to the pier.

Now there are more than a dozen videos in our Flagship Stories series available exclusively on YouTube, with additional interviews set to be published over the next couple of months. The Conservancy is planning another special shipboard tour for former passenger and crew in the fall. Details will follow in our next e-update.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL "FLAGSHIP STORIES" SERIES.

THE LEGACY OF THE BLUE RIBAND

Chatham Marconi Maritime Center Lecture Series Focuses on the

SS United States

Earlier this month, the Conservancy's Preservation & Outreach Associate Alaina Noland delivered a guest lecture about the maiden voyage of the SS United States and the enduring legacy of the Big U at the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center.

"Legacy of the Blue Riband: The Maiden Voyage of SS United States" explored the history of the Transatlantic speed record, how the SS United States fits into that history as the final ocean liner to capture the Hales Trophy, and how America's Flagship compared to other notable ships that have held the title of Queen of the Atlantic.

The lecture was part of the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center's special exhibition, "The Golden Age of Transatlantic Ocean Liners." The exhibition, which is going on now, prominently features America's Flagship and five other historic liners that held the Blue Riband.

Later this year, the Conservancy will be leading another lecture based on our digital exhibition, "Transatlantic Trailblazers: The Women Behind the Art, Design and Engineering of the SS United States ." Stay tuned for additional details.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ALAINA'S FULL PRESENTATION AT THE CHATHAM MARCONI MARITIME CENTER.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TODAY

MORE FROM THE SS UNITED STATES CONSERVANCY

A MERCHANT MARINE FAMILY

Aileen Barton (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 1986) comes from a family of Merchant Marines. Her father served briefly before the Korean War, her older sister, Ivy Barton (USMMA, 1978), and her brother, Gregory Barton (USMMA, 1979) had a 33-year-career at sea.

A 27-year-employee of GE, in June, Aileen became a new donor and member of the Conservancy at the Captain's Quarter supporter level, with her gift matched through GE's employee matching gift program, allowing her to double the impact of her gift.

During their tour, Aileen and Gregory, were joined by their sister, Vivian Dozor (also a Captain's Quarter level donor), who brought her son, Harry, who will graduate from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 2026.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS FAMILY'S VISIT TO AMERICA'S FLAGSHIP.

THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE BIG U & FORMER CREW MEMBERS

This month is the premiere of “No Finer Way” a theatrical performance created by Jens-Erwin Siemssen, artistic director at Das Letzte Kleinod, which is highlighting America's Flagship, her passengers, and crew.

As part of his research, Siemssen visited the SS United States at her pier in Philadelphia in 2020, and conducted interviews with Conservancy President Susan Gibbs, the late Joe Rota, a former crew member and Conservancy Board member, and the late Joe Muchulsky, also a former crew member and co-chair of the Conservancy's Hampton Roads Chapter. Siemssen was so inspired by Rota and Muchulsky's unique stories that they have become two of the play's lead characters! A full report on the performance will be included in the next e-update.

CLICK HERE FOR ORE INFORMATION ABOUT "NO FINER WAY."

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THE BIG U CONTINUES TO INSPIRE...

""It's the SS United States. It's an important symbol and we need to keep it going." - Vincent Maiello, former SS United States passenger