Who are we?

We are a Non-Profit organization led by U.S. Veterans, Merchant Mariners, and American Heritage Preservationists, united by a solemn mission: to safeguard our nation's most cherished institutions, historic landmarks, and maritime legacy. The SS United States Preservation Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that future generations don’t just read about America’s storied past—they experience it firsthand.

We believe history is more than memory. It’s a living legacy that must be preserved, honored, and shared.

"Throughout our nation’s history, patriots have consistently stepped forward—defending liberty, opposing injustice, and advancing the dream first envisioned by our Founders."

Today, as our country approaches its 250th anniversary, we face a defining choice:

Will we quietly watch as our heritage erodes—monument by monument, landmark by landmark?

Or will we rise, with vision and resolve, to protect what remains and proclaim that a nation which neglects its history risks forsaking the very values that define it?

What is our mission?

Our mission is to rescue and restore the SS United States—the iconic flagship of the U.S. Merchant Marine—who now faces an imminent and unjust threat. She is not only a marvel of engineering; she is a living symbol of American strength, freedom, and innovation.

We are committed to securing her safe return to the American people through lawful public partnership and just compensation to Okaloosa County, Florida. Our approach is built on transparency, respect, and a shared goal: preserving one of our nation’s greatest maritime treasures.

We are actively advocating for her designation as a National Maritime Monument, a critical step that will provide federal protection and resources to preserve her legacy for generations to come.

In close collaboration with federal agencies and civic leaders, we propose transforming her spaces into a vibrant center for:

Veteran Services and Reintegration
American Trade and Maritime Education
Civic Engagement and America First Initiatives

She has served this country with grace and power. Now, we serve her—so she may continue to inspire and unite the nation.

What is the current status of the SS United States?

On February 19, 2025, the SS United States—America’s flagship of the U.S. Merchant Marine—departed her longtime berth in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beginning a journey that now imperils her legacy. She arrived ahead of schedule on March 3, 2025, in Mobile, Alabama, and is currently moored at the Modern American Recycling Services (MARS) dock at 601 South Royal Street.

This historic vessel, once revered as a triumph of American engineering and maritime excellence, now faces a planned scuttling operation. Okaloosa County, Florida, has proposed using her to create the “World’s Largest Artificial Reef”—a controversial initiative that, if carried out, would effectively eliminate the last and largest American-built ocean liner, holder of the Blue Riband, and centerpiece of the U.S. Merchant Marine fleet.

Designated a National Historic Landmark under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (reference #99000609), her potential loss represents not only a tragedy but an irrevocable blow to our nation's maritime heritage. To reduce her to reef material is to silence the voice of a vessel that once embodied the speed, strength, and ambition of a proud nation.

Her story is not one of obsolescence—it is one of unmatched service, significance, and survivorship. The SS United States deserves to be preserved, restored, and celebrated—not forgotten beneath the waves.

Will this be the end for the SS United States?

This is not the end for America's greatest maritime and technological achievement. For 58 years, she has defied the odds—29 of them as a National Register-listed Historic Place gracing the Philadelphia skyline. Now, as she faces the most formidable threat of her existence, we, too, will rise with strength and resolve.

The fight to rescue the SS United States—the flagship of the U.S. Merchant Marine—is a call to every American. It is a call to unite, to endure, and to confront injustice with unwavering determination. This is more than a campaign to save a ship; it is a movement to preserve the legacy of the fastest ocean liner ever built, the “Queen of the Seas,” and one of the most powerful symbols of American ingenuity.

Together, with conviction and clarity, we will ensure she is not discarded. We will protect, restore, and elevate her so that she may continue to stand as a tribute to those who served, dreamed, and built a nation unlike any other.

This moment defines who we are. And we answer it—with purpose, patriotism, and perseverance.

If successful, where will we Moor the SS United States?

Should our mission succeed, we will work collaboratively with government agencies and private investors to secure a permanent and suitable location for the SS United States. Through extensive planning and research, we have identified and vetted numerous locations across the United States' coastal waterways—including sites along the East Coast and throughout the Gulf of America—that are equipped to accommodate her scale, significance, and future development. We are actively working with respective parties to secure these locations in anticipation of her restoration.

All actions will proceed under proper oversight and with full transparency. In the event that she receives full federal protection and ownership, decisions regarding her final placement and long-term purpose will rest with the United States Government.

This mission is not centered on our foundation’s sole ownership—though such an outcome could streamline efforts. Our higher purpose is to preserve the SS United States as a public treasure, safeguarded for future generations.

Achieving National Monument Status is essential to this goal. Through this designation, Americans will have the opportunity to engage with her legacy directly—not through textbooks or archived images, but aboard a vessel that once embodied the best of American innovation and resolve.

What happens in the event of mission failure?

Should our mission to rescue the SS United States be met with defeat, and the act of scuttling her in the Gulf of America proceeds, our nation will suffer the loss of a profound symbol of maritime excellence, engineering achievement, and American resilience. We the People will mourn not just the ship, but the legacy she carried—a legacy that has stood for innovation, dignity, and national pride.

Yet even in the face of such an outcome, our commitment will remain. We will channel every resource, every ounce of resolve, into honoring her through the creation of a national monument in her name. This monument will stand as a lasting tribute to her place in history, and as a reminder of what she represented.

Furthermore, all remaining funds donated to rescue the SS United States will be transparently redirected to a charity devoted to the protection and preservation of American maritime heritage. Should no such entity exist at the time, our foundation will establish one—in her honor—to ensure that her story fuels a broader movement that safeguards other irreplaceable vessels before it is too late.

This mission is not merely about saving one ship—it is about saving a vital chapter of our national identity. The SS United States deserves to endure as a source of inspiration for generations to come, whether atop the seas or through a monument that speaks to the greatness she embodied.

What happens in the event another entity secures the vessel?

Should another entity secure the SS United States for preservation, whether privately or federally, all funds received through donations will be transferred to that entity to ensure the ship is properly funded and meticulously cared for in the years ahead. While our vision for repurposing, this Mighty Ship may differ from other organizations advocating for her rescue, we firmly believe in the importance of transparency in our actions and unwavering commitment to serving the best interests of the SS United States.

It is our goal to see her stand proudly as the "Monument of Engineering" that she has always been—a testament to American ingenuity and maritime excellence. This iconic vessel deserves to inspire and educate future generations, ensuring her legacy lives on not just in history books, but in the hearts and minds of those who experience her greatness firsthand.

How can you help?

There are many meaningful ways to support the fight to save America’s First Lady of the Seas—the SS United States:

Write to your elected representatives in Congress and the White House, urging formal designation of the SS United States as a National Maritime Monument.

Share her story and raise awareness about the urgent threat facing our U.S. Merchant Marine flagship.

Submit letters to Okaloosa County officials outlining the historical and cultural reasons why the SS United States must not be reefed.

Contact local news outlets to voice your concern and help bring national attention to her fate.

Organize or participate in educational gatherings and heritage awareness events to foster public understanding and civic dialogue.

Reach out directly to our Foundation at CCO@ssuspreservationfoundation.com to learn how you can join our team and contribute to the mission.

Sign and share our national petition: “Redemption Through Restoration: Enact the America 250 Maritime Heritage Act.” This initiative calls for the SS United States to be formally recognized as a National Monument, returned to federal stewardship, and repurposed as a center for veteran services, innovation, and education. It presents a multi-phase blueprint to restore and relaunch the SS United States in time for America’s 250th anniversary—preserving her legacy as a living symbol of freedom, resilience, and maritime excellence.

Follow, like, and share our digital platforms to stay informed and help amplify our rescue campaign.

Consider making a donation to help us restore honor, preserve history, and secure the future of the SS United States.

Volunteer your time and voice—whether through outreach, education, or online advocacy—to support this cause. Every patriot has a role to play.

This is a national effort, and it belongs to every American who values the preservation of history, honor, and legacy. Together, we can ensure her story continues.

join the fight!

sign & share our petition

“Is it not cruel to let our city die by degrees, stripped of all her proud monuments, until there will be nothing left of all her history and beauty to inspire our children. If they are not inspired by the past of our city, where will they find the strength to fight for her future?”

- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

A Voyage of Prestige and Cultural Diplomacy

She was more than a ship—she was a stage for American greatness. The SS United States shattered transatlantic speed records on her maiden voyage in July 1952, earning the coveted Blue Riband and establishing herself as the fastest ocean liner in history. But her legacy extended far beyond engineering triumphs.

In October 1955, Senator John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy sailed aboard her, a moment that reflected the ship’s stature as a vessel worthy of statesmen and cultural icons. Their presence aboard underscored her role as a symbol of national pride and elegance during a golden era of American diplomacy.

That symbolism deepened in 1963, when First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy orchestrated the return of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to France aboard the SS United States. After captivating millions during its U.S. exhibition, the world’s most famous painting was entrusted to her care—traveling in a secured first-class suite under round-the-clock protection. It was a gesture of international goodwill, cultural leadership, and trust in America’s flagship.

Moments like these remind us that she was not merely a vessel of steel and steam, but a carrier of history, diplomacy, and grace. Her story deserves to be preserved—not submerged.

SS UNITED STATES

U.S. Merchant Marine Flagship