This is a sad story, in more ways than one. In the late 1970's the S.S. United States was towed up the Elizabeth River in Norfolk. It was moored near Craney Island at the Grain Pier. At that time they had planned on making it into a hotel and placing it where Norfolk's Harbor Place is now.
It was a good idea but the money didn't work out. Then it went to Florida; again it was sad to watch it being towed after such a storied career, making her 1952 record Atlantic crossing in 3 days and 10 hrs. at 35 knots. (1.149 statute miles)
Living by the Narrows in Brooklyn I remember seeing her enter and leave New York as a kid. It was a majestic sight. I used to take the subway to mid town Manhattan and tour the liners when they were in port. No charge, you just went up the gangway and they let you roam around. I was about 12 years old at the time.
Her last trip with passengers to New York was when she docked there on September 7th, 1969. Funny this post should appear on September 8th, 2024. 55 years later; an orphan who never got adopted for, or adapted to, another way of life.
The plan now is to sink her as the world's largest artifical reef off Florida, and is probably the most noble of options at this point.
But the final sad, though relatively minor blow is that the article refers to her "purposefully" being sunk. Purposefully means, "In a way that shows determination or resolve." I suppose the author of the article, most likely using spell check, meant to say "purposely" which means "in a deliberate manner". A small difference, granted. But still, one last reminder of how much the world has changed since 1952. We don't even spell right anymore.
The photo above is of her now, in Florida, her once beautiful paint faded and peeling. The next photo is of her at the grain pier up the Elizabeth River in 1983. I want to thank Joe Sea Man for sending it to me today. And the last photo, which seems to be dated from 1954, is of her heading into the channel off Sandy Hook. That photo was taken from a fishing boat out of Sheepshead Bay. I got that photo from the Sheepshead Bay Memories site here on Facebook a few years ago. Sadly, I do not remember who posted it.
It was a good idea but the money didn't work out. Then it went to Florida; again it was sad to watch it being towed after such a storied career, making her 1952 record Atlantic crossing in 3 days and 10 hrs. at 35 knots. (1.149 statute miles)
Living by the Narrows in Brooklyn I remember seeing her enter and leave New York as a kid. It was a majestic sight. I used to take the subway to mid town Manhattan and tour the liners when they were in port. No charge, you just went up the gangway and they let you roam around. I was about 12 years old at the time.
Her last trip with passengers to New York was when she docked there on September 7th, 1969. Funny this post should appear on September 8th, 2024. 55 years later; an orphan who never got adopted for, or adapted to, another way of life.
The plan now is to sink her as the world's largest artifical reef off Florida, and is probably the most noble of options at this point.
But the final sad, though relatively minor blow is that the article refers to her "purposefully" being sunk. Purposefully means, "In a way that shows determination or resolve." I suppose the author of the article, most likely using spell check, meant to say "purposely" which means "in a deliberate manner". A small difference, granted. But still, one last reminder of how much the world has changed since 1952. We don't even spell right anymore.
The photo above is of her now, in Florida, her once beautiful paint faded and peeling. The next photo is of her at the grain pier up the Elizabeth River in 1983. I want to thank Joe Sea Man for sending it to me today. And the last photo, which seems to be dated from 1954, is of her heading into the channel off Sandy Hook. That photo was taken from a fishing boat out of Sheepshead Bay. I got that photo from the Sheepshead Bay Memories site here on Facebook a few years ago. Sadly, I do not remember who posted it.
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