Friends of American Maritime History: The SS United States Conservancy is pleased to announce that we have received a significant donation from H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest that gives our national flagship, the legendary ocean liner SS United States, a temporary reprieve from the scrap yard. The SSUS Conservancy is now poised to save the ship from the breakers, pending title transfer of the vessel to the Conservancy. Still, to be perfectly clear, the Big U has not been saved; she has been granted a crucial 20-month stay of execution. Our grant provides funds for maintenance that will run out 20 months after we assume ownership of the vessel. With the SS United States still facing an uncertain future, please help us establish a public-private partnership to re-purpose the ship as a stationary attraction in a large U.S. city.
We need your financial support to continue working toward this goal. Become a "plank owner" today by clicking on the bar above and contributing at least $25. In a few weeks, we’ll manually add your name to a blank certificate (sample at right) and e-mail you a color Plank Owner Certificate as an attachment, which you can download and print immediately. (Please note: nothing will actually be mailed to you through postal mail.) You can then frame and display your certificate to show that you are part of a movement to save our national flagship.
From 1952 to 1969 the SS United States was the fastest, greatest ship in the world, transporting American presidents, movie stars, business leaders, foreign heads of state, everyday Americans, and immigrants to our shores between New York and a number of overseas ports. Sadly, the ship fell out of the limelight and passed through the hands of a variety of owners, all of whom were ultimately unable to preserve her. Please help us secure a dignified future for this irreplaceable piece of our nation's heritage. Thank you for your help, now let's "Save Our Ship!"