SS United States Conservancy

05/14/2026

On this date in 1952, the SS United States began her first set of builder’s sea trials. During her trails, she traveled in excess of 38 knots — over 44 miles per hour, an unprecedented speed record for an ocean liner that remains unbroken to this day.

Photo courtesy of Pamela Alessandrelli.

05/12/2026

NOLA.com reported on the enormous public interest in the SS United States and the Conservancy's exciting plans for a future museum and visitor experience. Our museum in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area will celebrate the extraordinary story of the SS United States and will showcase our extensive collection of original mid-century modern shipboard art, artifacts from the vessel, archival documentation, oral histories, film footage, and more.

Read more here: https://www.nola.com/news/gulf_coast/destin-fl-seeks-ocean-liner-tourist-attraction/article_da7baf3f-08d2-4e40-a82d-b3247cc00620.html

Photo of the SS United States from 2025 courtesy of Nathanael Miller.

05/09/2026

The SS United States graced the pages of the Summer 1957 edition of Prairie Schooner, a quarterly literary journal. The issue featured a poem by Winthrop Palmer, a professor of literature and fine arts at Long Island University, inspired by our favorite ocean liner.

05/08/2026

The Conservancy is preserving the legacy of the SS United States to inspire future generations through our oral history project, digital exhibitions, curatorial collection, educational programming and more. Will you join us to help commemorate the Big U?

All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. To donate, please click here: https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/ss-united-states-conservancy/e-updatesdonor-form--copy

Photo courtesy of Karl Heuer

05/07/2026

On this date in 2019, Crossing on Time: Fast Ships, and a Journey to the New World was published. The book by award winning author and illustrator David Macaulay proudly features the SS United States on its cover and, in-part, guides readers through the fascinating history that culminated in the building of the most advanced―and last―of these steamships: the SS United States.

05/06/2026

The Big U was an ambassador of American culture to many passengers traveling to the United States for the first time. Menus from the ship featured elaborate designs, including European landmarks like France’s Mont St. Michel.

The food and dining aboard experience aboard the SS United States made lasting impressions on the ship’s passengers and crew members. To learn more, explore our newest digital exhibition: https://www.ssusc.org/setting-the-table

05/01/2026

“From one great ship to another…”

Dale in North Dakota answered the Conservancy’s call for messages to celebrate and memorialize the SS United States. This postcard, featuring the Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 also wishes the SS United States “bon voyage.”

As our beloved ship is being prepared for a new role, we hope you will join us by sending us a postcard addressed directly to the Big U.

To see more messages from supporters around the country, and for details about how to share your own farewell, click here: https://www.ssusc.org/bon-voyage-postcards

04/29/2026

The Conservancy offers a wide variety of SS United States apparel, home goods, puzzles and more in our online store. All proceeds benefit the Conservancy and support the expansion of our curatorial collection, development of educational programing, and advancement of museum planning.

To browse our offerings, please click here: https://www.ssusc.org/store

04/28/2026

Conservancy supporter Alex recreated the SS United States as a design exercise in Roblox, a video game.

This recreation, named the “SS Robloxia,” was created in appreciation of the Big U’s iconic design. Thank you, Alex, for sharing your work with us!

04/24/2026

Oceanliner Designs, a popular YouTube channel, recently showcased incredible digital renderings of the SS United States’ interiors! Their video shows an online recreation of the stunning spaces including the bridge, the grand main staircase, and the ballroom.

These digital Big U interiors capture the iconic mid-century modern design and artwork aboard the ship, including artist Charles Gilbert’s famed carved glass murals depicting undersea flora and fauna.

To watch the video, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSyonVCqLkI&t=50s

4.1K likes, 542 comments. "Inside the SS United States' STUNNING First Class"

04/23/2026

Have you enjoyed exploring the Conservancy’s digital exhibitions, exploring the ins and outs of food and dining aboard the SS United States or the role women played in her development and design?

These digital exhibitions, as well as our other programming preserving the ship’s history, are made possible by generous donations from supporters all around the world. Please consider making a one time or recurring donation to the Conservancy to help us preserve and share the SS United States’ legacy and inspire future generations.

All gifts are tax-deductible. To show your support, click here: https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/ss-united-states-conservancy/e-updatesdonor-form--copy