SHE BEARS THE NAME OF OUR NATION. SHE NEEDS OUR HELP NOW.
We’re in a race against time to move the SS United States to a new location. The stakes couldn’t be higher. This is a moment for us to unite to save this symbol of our nation. Without a new location and more resources, America’s Flagship will be lost.
Could you imagine scrapping the Statue of Liberty, sinking the Liberty Bell out at sea or tearing down the Washington Monument? Neither can we. That’s why the United States needs your help now.
An irreplaceable piece of American history and symbol of the nation could soon be homeless and face destruction.
After a lengthy legal dispute, the US District Court in Philadelphia ruled on June 14, that the SS United States must vacate the berth at Pier 82 it has occupied for decades by September 12, 2024. In her ruling, Senior Judge Anita Brody determined that the ship’s landlord, Penn Warehousing, could not double dockage fees without notice to force the ship from her pier. But the court order established a 90-day deadline to move the nearly 1000-foot-long ship to a new home.
To save America’s flagship, the SS United States Conservancy has now launched an urgent effort to raise $500,000 to help cover the costs of the ship’s potential relocation and other critical expenses.
A unique engineering marvel, the SS United States is the fastest liner ever to cross the Atlantic Ocean and an enduring expression of American mid-century technological innovation. Today, the only ship to bear the name of our nation faces twin threats to her survival.
HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS PROTECT THE LEGACY OF THE UNITED STATES
Dockage fees
Shipboard surveys and preparations for moving
Maritime insurance
Tugboats and crew costs
Infrastructure improvements at new pier location
Preservation of shipboard artifacts and Conservancy collections
The SS United States has faced imminent danger before, but supporters from across the country and around the world have always stepped up to save her from destruction. We need your help today to meet our campaign goal.
All contributions to the campaign are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Proceeds from the fundraising campaign will be prioritized toward moving the vessel, should a suitable pier become available within the court-imposed timeline. Relocating a ship the size of the SS United States is complex. It requires funds for insurance, tugs, surveys, and dock preparations to ensure the ship’s safe passage to a new home. The Conservancy has been actively exploring potential pier locations in the Philadelphia area and along the East Coast able to accommodate the liner. The nonprofit organization has also been engaging in targeted outreach to federal and state officials including President Biden, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, the U.S. Navy, regional port authorities, and others who could help with that effort.
Since acquiring the SS United States in 2011, the Conservancy has achieved dramatic success in raising public awareness about the ship and building a global community of supporters. In 2023, together with RXR and MCR Hotels, they unveiled a full redevelopment plan demonstrating the ship’s commercial viability as a privately funded, mixed use destination. Renderings can be found HERE. Since its inception, the Conservancy has continued to advance public education about the ship through temporary exhibitions, events, and the care of a major museum collection of original furniture, artwork, ephemera, archival documentation, and historic components from the ship.