Steven Ouellett's Floating SS United States Replica

The Conservancy is devoted to raising awareness and education around the historic SS United States. We are delighted any time we learn of teachers incorporating America’s Flagship into their lessons. We were recently contacted by Steven Ouellett, a teacher based in The Bronx, New York City. Ouellett wrote:

“She’s not perfect, but this was my best attempt to build a replica of the SS United States out of manila folders, poster board, and aluminum. As a science teacher, my students and I were on the subject of density and displacement, and what better way to demonstrate it by using ships? Unfortunately, COVID-19 closed down all the schools and the way to wrap up this project and launch her. So to not disappoint my students, I built her myself. Her keel was laid on the 21st of March and was officially launched on the 12th of June. The model SS United States’ length overall (LOA) is 70 inches, the beam is 14 inches and the maximum draught is 3.5 inches.”

You can see a video of the model below.

“I was inspired to build this model because I remember accidentally discovering the SS United States when doing research on Blue Riband ships. When doing more research, I saw more of her coloured history as the current reigning Blue Riband,” Ouelett told the Conservancy. “I got emotional when I saw the state she’s in at Philadelphia, and to think that so few people know of her. I grew up at sea, and to think that such a beauty is largely unknown by her country, which she’s named after and flew the flag for, made me really feel emotional and more inclined to honour her.

Originally, I’m from Canada but this was a ship that really means a lot to me because I admire great feats of engineering and I would love, as any ocean liner enthusiast would, to see the real beauty restored, hopefully re-moored in New York, and honoured for how great she is.”

Steven also sent in these photos from his recent trip to Philadelphia, where he was able to see America’s Flagship in person.

The SS United States Conservancy is advancing its plans to create a world-class shipboard museum and visitor center aboard the redeveloped Big U. Learn how you can help.

Support America's Flagship in Style

The story of the SS United States is our story.

It is a story of our nation’s triumphant emergence after the trauma of World War II. A story of people, from small towns to big cities, setting out on life-changing journeys to distant shores; Of immigrants crossing the Atlantic in order to build a new life. A living icon of the American dream, the SS United States, continues to represent the power of freedom, hard work, common purpose, and innovation.

Debuted in 1952, the SS United States quickly became the most powerful and fastest ocean liner in the world, smashing the transatlantic speed record on her maiden voyage. Entirely Made in America by over 3,000 pairs of tireless hands, and with products and components from every state in the nation, the SS United States was a global ambassador and the pinnacle of mid-century maritime design. Behind her graceful lines and patriotic flair, she was a national security asset, capable of being transformed into a state-of-the-art, top-secret military vessel.

Help us continue to tell the story of the SS United States by ordering a limited-edition T-shirt or tank top, featuring the sleek mid-century modern-inspired design by Greg Shutters. The 100% Cotton, Hanes Tagless T-shirts provide you with the utmost comfort while remaining durable through each wear and wash. The Hanes X-Temp Tank Top, with a tearaway label, offers special moisture-wicking fabric, perfect for enjoying the summer heat. Each and every sale of these limited-edition shirts helps to keep the SS United States afloat, supporting the ship’s basic expenses as our redevelopment plans advance into their next phase. Each and every sale helps to keep the SS United States afloat, supporting the ship’s basic expenses as our redevelopment plans advance into their next phase.

ORDER YOUR SHIRT OR TANK TOP TODAY

The SS United States Conservancy, a national non-profit organization, is committed to saving America’s Flagship, the SS United States. The Conservancy raises public awareness and financial resources for the maintenance, restoration, and ultimate reuse of this iconic vessel and works to ensure that the fastest ocean liner ever to cross the Atlantic will remain an inspiration for generations to come.

With over 500,000 square feet of unique space, the SS is ready for conversion into a spectacular historic, waterfront destination. The Conservancy is also hard at work building an extraordinary collection of art, artifacts, and historical documents from America’s Flagship to be displayed in our future ship-board museum. Your support will enable us to continue building and curating our collections, while also developing exciting new digital exhibitions.

For more information about the extraordinary SS United States, visit www.ssusc.org or www.wearetheunitedstates.org. You can also find the Conservancy on Facebook and Twitter.

In Loving Memory of Jim & Frieda Green

We were heartbroken to learn of the recent passing of Jim Green. Jim was a former crew member of the SS United States, who served as a purser on her record-breaking maiden voyage. He was also a dear friend of the Conservancy.

Longtime supporters may recall Jim and his late wife Frieda from the 2008 documentary, SS United States: Lady in Waiting. In one of the film's most moving scenes, Jim and Frieda recall meeting and falling in love aboard the Big U. Jim and Frieda's love story continued for 60 years until Frieda passed away in 2016.

Mark Perry, who produced Lady in Waiting and serves on the Conservancy’s Board of Directors, shared his memories of Jim and Frieda in a heartfelt Facebook post — the text of which follows below.

“I’ve received the very sad news that former SS United States crew member and good friend Jim Green passed away Friday night. I met Jim in 2002 aboard the Queen Mary during a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Big U’s maiden voyage. A purser on those record-breaking first crossings, Jim was fond of telling the story that on their second day at sea, July 4th, 1952, the SS United States passed the SS America and the two ships exchanged salutes. Little did he know at the time, but a lovely young woman named Frieda Kerstgens was aboard the other liner, returning to New York with her parents. Five years later, Frieda was a passenger aboard the Big U, and she and Jim had a “meet cute” right out of a classic Hollywood film—a story they related with such charm in our 2008 documentary, SS United States: Lady in Waiting. Soon after they met, the couple married and Jim happily traded his life at sea for one on land. Jim and Frieda were two of the kindest, funniest people I’ve ever had the privilege to know, both with an ever-present twinkle in their eyes, and Jim always on the ready with a bad pun or groan-inducing joke. And even though you knew she’d heard them a million times, Frieda always laughed. When I relayed the news to Joe Rota, another dear friend, former crew member, and fellow Conservancy board member, he replied, “Jim was a good man, worked well with his shipmates, always a pleasure to be in his company. He was a good friend to have and I’m proud that he considered me his friend. Continued smooth sailings, Jim!” Conservancy president Susan Gibbs said, “His spirit will continue to animate our efforts to save his beloved ship.” Our hearts go out to the Greens: John, Heidi, Christopher and their families. I like to think dear Frieda, who left us in 2016, has been saving her beloved husband a deck chair.” —Mark Perry

The SS United States Conservancy is committed to creating a world-class museum and visitor center aboard the redeveloped Big U. Learn more about our plans here.