September 20, 2013
SOS: Act Now to Save America's Flagship

The Conservancy is pleased to announce the launch of an innovative pre-development program that will help prepare the SS United States for conversion into a mixed-use development and museum complex.  This program will include the selective reclamation of obsolete materials aboard the vessel that will help cover the ship's carrying costs as well as advance our future SS United States Center for Design and Discovery.  Since the kick-off of the Conservancy's $500,000 "Save Our Ship" Campaign earlier this year, we have been vigorously pursuing a range of creative fundraising approaches.  While we continue to search for a permanent location for "America's Flagship," this pre-development program will generate crucial revenue in support of our key goals.

 

Guided by an expert group of marine engineers, naval architects, maritime historians, and museum specialists, the Conservancy has identified materials aboard the vessel that must be removed prior to the ship's redevelopment.  These items are located below B Deck in spaces closed to public view, are not part of our future preservation or curatorial plans, and are not vital to the vessel's structural integrity.  This program will support the Conservancy's core stewardship mission and will not alter the historic vessel's appearance or design. All work will be carried out in full compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.  

 

This pre-development program will make the ship more attractive for investors and developers and will help cover the vessel's basic carrying costs - such as ship insurance, pier rental, and vessel management and upkeep - through July, 2014.  These revenues will not cover the costs of the Conservancy's vital curatorial and educational programs or core operations.  Continued support from our members and donors are essential to advance our museum plans, build our curatorial collections, and energetically pursue redevelopment plans and partners. 

 

The Conservancy's momentum continues to build: We are excited to announce that a special new SS United States exhibition will premiere at Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum in February, 2014.  Our innovative online platform and future "virtual" interactive museum display at SavetheUnitedStates.org continues to capture widespread attention and interest.  Stay tuned for exciting events and updates in the coming months featuring renowned author and illustrator David Macaulay, tennis legend Billie Jean King, and other prominent SOS Campaign supporters.  Once again, we are profoundly grateful for your continued support.    

 
   

     

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Also in this Issue:

 

 

 


macaulayDavid Macaulay Explores the SS United States' Engine Room: Check out his Latest Blog Entry 

Engine Room

World-renowned author and illustrator David Macaulay has embarked on a very exciting project on the SS United States, and he continues to share  fascinating "back-stage" passes and sneak peeks of his explorations and creative processes with the Conservancy. David has recently uploaded a new installment to his blog on the Conservancy's website, a sketch of part of the SS United States' record-breaking powerplant. We're so grateful to David for sharing his drawings and reflections with us, and we are eagerly anticipating his future book which will introduce America's Flagship far and wide to new generations. You can visit David's blog here.

Last week, Macaulay Studio released two wonderful new "My Readers" books: Eye: How it Works and Toilet: How it Works Kirkus raved about their "perfect blend of humor and clarity-in text and in artwork."  While awaiting his major work on the SS United States, you can order these new titles via Amazon here.  

Macaulay emigrated to the US as a child aboard the SS United States in 1957.  Read below about how David needs your help tracking down the passenger lists from his family's voyage! 


santanderSS United States Featured in New Art Exhibitions   

Galeria Siboney
Artist Maria Mijares (center) along with Mario Alvarez-Garcillan, the Conservancy's European Outreach Chair (left) and his wife Sofia (right) at Galeria Siboney in Santander, Spain
Industrial Waters The SS United States was showcased in an exciting exhibition at Galeria Siboney in Santander, Spain by American artist and Conservancy supporter Maria Mijares. The exhibition, called "Two Ships Esperando," juxtaposed paintings of the SS United States as a triumphant symbol of maritime success with paintings of the 2012 Costa Concordia disaster as a "monument to disgrace resting on her side."  While the exhibition closed this weekend, prints of one of Maria's SS United States paintings, called "Midnight Funnels," are available for purchase in the Conservancy's storeMaria has very generously agreed to donate a portion of her print sales to the Conservancy. Thank you, Maria!

The SS United States is also featured prominently in a new exhibition in New York City aboard the historic lighthouse tender Lilac, located at Pier 25 in downtown Manhattan. The exhibition, "Industrial Waters," features works by Arsenio Martinez, David Sheldon, and the Conservancy's New York and Northern New Jersey Chapter Chair Paul Stipkovich. Paul has created a number of extraordinary works of art inspired by the SS United States, and some special highlights can be viewed on board the Lilac. The exhibition runs until October 31.  Stay tuned for a special closing reception that will take place in late October!


passengerlistDid You Travel Aboard the Big U with David Macaulay and his Family? Calling All Passenger Lists!    

 
The Conservancy continues to collect passenger lists from all of the SS United States' 400 voyages.  Our ultimate goal is to digitize the complete collection so our members can search through a comprehensive database of the ship's 1 million+ passengers and find family members, friends, and celebrities.  This will be developed in tandem with the growing repository of photos and testimonials contributed to SaveTheUnitedStates.org.

If you have a passenger list from the SS United States, either from your own trip on board or one you've purchased as a collectible, we'd be very grateful if you could share the contents with us.  We are gathering original lists as well as photocopied versions.  The lists can be scanned and sent to us at [email protected] or copied and and mailed to SS United States Conservancy, PO Box 32115, Washington DC 20007.

We have an urgent request:  We are searching for passenger lists from Voyage #118, Sept 25-30, 1957 - the voyage taken by our esteemed Advisory Council member David Macaulay (see above) and his family.  If you can help us track down lists from this voyage, you will receive a very special thank-you gift from the Conservancy (and David Macaulay!)


acConservancy Welcomes New Advisory Council Members  


It is with great pride that the SS Conservancy officially welcomes its three newest Advisory Council members:

Lawrence Driscoll, Maritime Historian & Author.  Larry's new book The Last Great Race: The SS United States and the Blue Riband (Glencannon Press, 2013) tells the story of the SS United States' triumphant trans-Atlantic crossing.  A retired school administrator, Larry was a young passenger aboard the SS United States and her sister ship the SS America, and both vessels made a life-long impression on him.  Larry and his new book were recently profiled in a terrific article in the Finger Lakes Times.  To read the piece, click HERE.  To order The Last Great Race, click HERE.

Keith Harper
, Assistant Vice President of the Design Group at Gibbs & Cox, Inc., the naval architecture and marine engineering firm that designed the SS United States.  There are now over 180 ships in service or under construction/contract worldwide based on Gibbs & Cox  designs, including almost 80 percent of the current U.S. Navy's Ship Battle Forces surface combatant fleet.  Keith is based in Gibbs & Cox's Newport News office and he is an expert on the SS United States' history, design, and mechanical features.  He has been providing invaluable advice to the Conservancy on preservation and pre-development issues.

Carl Weber, Founder and Operator of the popular online "SS United States Group." 
Carl's love for the SS United States began at age 11, when he first saw the vessel during her layup at Norfolk, Virginia. He is a longtime advocate for the ship's preservation and he volunteers with the Conservancy's New York & Northern New Jersey Chapter. Carl is a Navy veteran and currently lives his own modern day version of "Mad Men" at one of the largest ad agency networks in Manhattan, specializing in pharmaceutical advertising.

These three join the ranks alongside author & illustrator David Macaulay, tennis star and activist Billie Jean King, and a whole host of others dedicated to helping ensure the SS United States' preservation.  The complete Advisory Council roster can be viewed HERE


donorsA Huge Thanks to Our Recent E-Update Donors   

 

Last month, this e-newsletter announced an extension of our urgent SOS Campaign. Funds were low, and the ship's fate was hanging in the balance.  Within 48 hours of the e-newsletter's release, we were elated by the incredible show of support from our members and donors.  Thanks to you, the SS United States lives on.  Your support brings us ever closer to achieving our museum and redevelopment plans.  Non-disclosure agreements preclude us from sharing the specifics of our current negotiations, but we remain very encouraged by the possibilities before us. In the meantime, we'd like to extend a huge "thank you" to those donors who immediately answered the call and gave so generously in the 48 hours following last month's e-newsletter appeal:


Carl Alessi
Keith GoldenThomas O'Donnell
Alan AptnerWilliam GoodeBarbara Peery
Robert Ashenbrenner
John GriffithPat Plackett
Jason BeukemaFred HaarerDavid Rubin
Dennis Chorpenning
David Hackert
Michael Rugarber
Ned CollettDonald IslesPhilip Samponaro
R. Warren Cramer
Brian JenningsChristian Stern
Knut DanielsenEvette JonesDavid Thomas
Frank DeLaurentisBettye KozlowskiThomas Tracy
Merle DittoJohn LittleJohn Tsevdo
Debbie DolphinLynne LoebSteve Vincent
William DonnellEric Manning
Elaine Williamson
William ElliottRobert McGeeGerald Zinn
Cecelia Featherston
Stewart Morris
Chester Zmijewski
William FosterSteven Murphy
Janet Givens
Robert Nash
 
  
If you have already given to the SOS Campaign, we cannot thank you enough! If you haven't yet supported the effort, please consider making a contribution today. We also ask you to reach out to your friends and contacts on social media and encourage them to lend a hand. A gift of $10, $25 or $50 will grant us crucial time to achieve a long-term solution for America's Flagship. As you know, saving the SS United States can create jobs, help revitalize a metropolitan waterfront, launch the SS United States Center for Design and Discovery, and preserve a unique maritime icon.

If you have any questions regarding the Conservancy's redevelopment and fundraising efforts, please refer to our FAQ page.     



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Graphic courtesy of Paul Stipkovich, Conservancy New York & Northern New Jersey Chapter Chair 

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SS United States Conservancy

P.O. Box 32115

Washington, DC 20007

(888)-488-7787