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All the United States Pennsylvania Philadelphia SS United States
SS United States is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

SS United States

The fastest transatlantic ocean liner sat abandoned in a Philadelphia shipyard for decades.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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SS United States   Lowlova / CC BY 3.0
SS United States   Tony Basilio / CC BY 2.0
SS United States   chrisinphilly5448 / CC BY-SA 2.0
From street view   Julio Torres / Atlas Obscura User
  MattJCasey / Atlas Obscura User
  missingfilm / Atlas Obscura User
SS United States postcard   Wikimedia
The SS United States at its current mooring.   Wikimedia
SS United States seen from the water   Wikimedia
  michaelnhartman / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelnhartman / Atlas Obscura User
March 11, 2022   Schweg / Atlas Obscura User
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About

With the highest-ever sustained top speed of 35 knots, the SS United States is the world's fastest ocean liner. While the United States lost the eastbound transatlantic speed record in 1990 to Hoverspeed Great Britain, it still holds the Blue Riband for the westbound transatlantic speed record.

Launched in 1952, this ship's maiden voyage set the record for the fastest transatlantic trip by an ocean liner. This honor, known as the Blue Riband, was previously held by the Queen Mary. The ship uses an extremely powerful steam turbine engine and it is hailed as a fireproof ship. The only wood on board is the butcher's block and a specially designed, flame-resistant grand piano.

The luxurious vessel was retired from active service in 1969 and has had several owners since that time. The huge propellers were removed and one is at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York, and another at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City. A third propeller is at the SUNY Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, New York. Much of the interior dining room furnishings are in the Windmill Point Restaurant in Nags Head, North Carolina.

The SS United States Conservancy purchased the ship in February 2011. After years of rent disputes between the pier at which the ship is docked and the ship's owner, the SS United States was eventually removed from the shipyard.

Update: In February 2025, the SS United States left Philadelphia. The ship will be towed to Florida, where it will be sunk off the coast and turned into an artificial reef.

Related Tags

Abandoned Boats Ships Inventions Retro Tech Aletrail

Community Contributors

Edited By

hana, iafisher, bettertwin, mbison...

  • hana
  • iafisher
  • bettertwin
  • mbison
  • Schweg
  • missingfilm
  • MattJCasey
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • michaelnhartman
  • Julio Torres
  • CoastyJosh

Published

August 15, 2013

Updated

February 20, 2025

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  • http://www.ss-united-states.com/paxmilE4a.html
  • https://www.google.com/search?q=ss+united+states&rlz=1C1UEAD_enUS1122US1122&oq=ss+united+states&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqEAgAEAAYgwEY4wIYsQMYgAQyEAgAEAAYgwEY4wIYsQMYgAQyFggBEC4YgwEYrwEYxwEYsQMYgAQYjgUyBwgCEAAYgAQyEAgDEAAYgwEYsQMYgAQYigUyDQgEEAAYgwEYsQMYgAQyDQgFEAAYgwEYsQMYgAQyBggGEAAYAzIGCAcQRRg80gEIMTkyMGowajGoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
SS United States
2433-2469 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19148
United States
39.918508, -75.137118
Visit Website
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The SS United States Heads Into Unknown Waters

abandoned

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