Ocean Liner SS United States in Philadelphia

Rusting away on the quay in South Philadelphia are the remnants of the beautiful SS United States. Perhaps you've seen it from the Walt Whitman Bridge or if you have a window seat on the right side of plane landing towards the west at Philadelphia International Airport.

This ship is interesting because it's the last transatlantic liner that was built as a method of transportation. All subsequent liners have really been cruise ships. SS United States was not as luxurious as the ships that have been built since, and was uncomfortable to travel on for all but the really wealthy. It was public transportation, not a vacation in itself. When the Boeing 707 came along, this kind of thing was doomed.

People have a lot of sentimental attachment to the ship, which symbolizes so much, but the main reason I don't want to see it scrapped is the waste. People have pointed out that it's cheaper to build a new ship than restore this one. The reason it's cheaper is because of bad things about our economic system--i.e. that it's easier to plunder the earth for new resources in undeveloped countries and exploit the workers in the Third World than to pay American workers to fix this thing up. It may be "Cheaper" now to make a new ship (or floating hotel, museum, amusement park, or all of these things and more) from scratch, but the real price will be paid by future generations who will look back on us as the people who squandered so much of the beauty of our world.

So if you're visiting the South Philly big box stores check out this ship. Perhaps you'll be inspired to get involved in making it something useful in the future.

Song is by Whitesnake. Couldn't find the Steve Vai version :-(

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• SS
• United
• States
• Ocean
• liner
• Philadelphia
• South
• Philly
• IKEA
• cruise
• ship
• preservation

[KingOfTheClutch]

0:14 Swedish Flag?

[HowardFair]

Well spotted, @KingOfTheClutch the ship is moored across the street from an Ikea store... I used to ride my bike down there for a cheap brunch when I lived in Philly

[TheSpiritof1969]

@HowardFair

Can't agree that it makes environmental sense to rebuild this. The guts have already been torn out and it is just a rusting shell now. Far fitting it be used to put something back into the planet and maybe used to help generate a new reef. Not what you want to hear, I know, but it would be a dignified fate and far less sad than to see it rotting away like this in the corner of an industrial complex.

[Fatstratmatt96]

nice vid. Good choice of music too! :D

[SIGNALSTAT]

Back in the 80s it was tied up here in norfolk va for years and they had a big auction sold most of the furniture and other things even the bell was sold.i would sometimes take my boat and ride up beside it she was a beautiful ship.if anyone ever watches the movie munster go home you see some real good shots of this ship they filmed almost the whole movie on her back in the 60s.its really funny movie with herman munster.

[galloway62042009]

Or at least get down and Squat this thing, theres alot of room in there LOL

[EastCoastDude99]

@Nomasain........the only problem is it might not stay in Philly,  it may go to NYC or Miami (i've read). Or they say it could be moved less then a mile up river to property that was supposed to be the Foxwoods casino. If that happens, Philly will most likely be able to keep this gem.

[Nomasain]

That ship is just perfect to serve as a stage for bands. In the process becoming the next landmark promoting Philly. In this case, being gutted is a good thing; you need open spaces. And as a bonus you don't need to move her.

She will earn back the costs of a paint job and building rudiment pop stages in very short time.

Just imagine Alice Cooper or Live rocking this boat!

If I had the money, I'd go for it.

[075659178117]

@hecrpd thats not the Queen mary 2 thats the Qe2 that is in Dubai

[hecrpd]

@w35t51d369 you mean queen mary 2.