Docked just across the road from the Ikea in South Philadelphia sits a massive, rusting reminder of a bygone era in American history (for now, at least): the SS United States. This former “Queen of the Seas” has sat vacant at Pier 82 since 1996, as various efforts to revive her stalled out due to a lack of funding.
The ship has a murky future: It’s facing eviction from its berth in less than three months, due to a federal judge’s ruling in a case involving a years-long rent dispute between the conservancy that manages it and its landlord.
But how did the ship wind up in Philly to begin with?
A Marvel of American Engineering
The largest passenger ship ever built in the U.S., the SS United States is an engineering marvel. It’s narrow enough (101 feet) to safely navigate the locks of the Panama Canal, but nearly 1,000 feet long. At its tallest points, this ship is comparable to a 15-story building.
Engineers turned to aluminum to keep the weight of this giant under control. This proved especially helpful in allowing the ocean liner to achieve record speeds of up to 44 miles per hour during its maiden voyage from New York to England in 1952 — a record which stands to this day.
Another fact that made this ship unique among its global peers: it could convert itself from a luxury liner into a massive military machine, capable of ferrying up to 14,000 troops. Oh, and the ship is fireproof. Even the grand pianos on board were designed and tested to resist flames.
A Legacy of Luxury
An old postcard showing the SS United States. (Wikimedia Commons)
During the ship’s 25 years of active duty as an ocean liner, “America’s Flagship” was the travel go-to for many celebrities, tycoons, and world leaders, including:
- Marilyn Monroe
- John Wayne
- The king and queen of Greece
- The Duke and Duchess of Windsor
- Former U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Harry S. Truman
- Future U.S. president and then-Oxford scholar Bill Clinton
Passengers were treated to the finest amenities during the five-day transatlantic voyage. They could dance the night away in a grand ballroom, take in a show at one of several theaters on board, or feast on opulent dinners featuring courses such as braised smoked ox tongue.
A Future On Hold
The rise of passenger air travel sparked the end of the SS United States’ time as a luxury liner. It was decommissioned for passenger service in 1968, and changed ownership several times.
Throughout the years, there have been plans to convert the ship into condos, more than one attempt to turn it into a cruise ship, and more recently, efforts to redevelop it into a combination luxury hotel and museum. Now, the fate of the ship is in jeopardy, as the conservancy that oversees it scrambles to figure out its future by Sept. 12, the day it’s required to leave its berth.
This article was originally published in January 2024. It was updated in June 2024 to include details about the federal judge’s ruling.
