As we enter the holiday season, several of our Chapters have been making plans for holiday gatherings. The get-togethers are a great way to meet and socialize with others in your area who are passionate about the Big U.

As the Chapters finalize plans for these events, those who are on the Chapter mailing lists will hear directly from the Chapter chairs. Details of the events will also be posted on the Events page on our web site and shared via social media.

Washington, D.C. Chapter -- December 22

The Conservancy and its Washington, D.C. regional chapter will be hosting a festive holiday gathering for Conservancy members and donors on Monday evening, December 22. The event will be held at Conservancy Executive Director Susan Gibbs's private residence and will feature several special guests, including singer-songwriter and  producer Dan Landau who will present a live performance of his new song, "To Every Journey," inspired by the SS United States. Further details will be forthcoming. To make sure you receive updated information about this special event, please send a message to washington@ssusc.org with "holiday gathering" in the subject line.

Philadelphia Chapter -- December 13

The November 2014 issue of  Efoplistis Maritime Magazine

The second of two installments of extensive SS United States coverage by Greece's Dionysis Noratakis has been published in the November issue of Efoplistis Maritime Magazine, which features the ship on the cover. 

Written in Greek, the article covers the ship's post-service history from 1969 through the present day, and includes an interview with Conservancy Executive Director Susan Gibbs.

The first article, which was printed in the October issue, covered the time period up through 1969. A PDF version of the second article (written in Greek), can be found HERE.

"America's Superliner," a 45-minute television documentary, will be rebroadcast on the German news channel N24 on December 6. The film, first aired in April 2012 by the channel, tells the story of the legendary SS United States as a symbol for America at the peak of its power. This technological masterpiece reflects the history of the United States, from the post-war boom years to the late 1960s. 

The film crew visited the ship and interviewed a number of SS United States Conservancy leaders and and members. It was written and directed by Detlev Konnerth and Charlotte Kr�ger, and produced by Stefan Aust, one of the best-known journalists in Germany.

Amerikas Traumschiff - Die Geschichte der "United States" (2012) on TV (N24 Zeitreise mit Stefan Aust)

 

 

Guests aboard the SS Rotterdam in the Netherlands now will have an opportunity to learn some of the fascinating statistics and history of the SS United States. The Library on the Upper-Promenade deck of the Rotterdam includes a display dedicated to the SS United States curated by SS Rotterdam expert Ron Aker and installed by Klaas Krijnen of the Steamship Rotterdam Foundation.

 

The Library is one of the public rooms on the beautifully-restored SS Rotterdam. The successful restoration of the SS Rotterdam, the Dutch flagship, as a mixed-use complex provides a powerful example of the redevelopment potential of the SS United States.

 

 

New Jersey Chapter Chair Chuck Parodi's presentation to the Roebling Chapter of the Society for Industrial Archaeology

The newly-established New Jersey Chapter of the SS United States Conservancy was recently hosted by the NY/NJ area Roebling Chapter of the Society For Industrial Archaeology at its 34th annual Symposium. The October 18th Symposium was held at the newly-opened Rodgers Locomotive Works Storage Building located in the Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park, Paterson, NJ. With over 2,000 members in the United States, Canada, and Europe, the Society's goal is to promote the study of the physical survival of the technological and industrial past.

 

Chuck Parodi, the Conservancy's New Jersey Chapter Chairman, spoke about the technological achievements in the building of the SS United States and the Conservancy's current efforts to re-purpose the ship. With approximately 130 people in attendance, Chuck's presentation was warmly received, with two members of the audience sharing their personal experiences as passengers aboard the ship. In addition, excerpts of Lady in Waiting were shown as attendees mingled over lunch.

 

The Society For Industrial Archeology's upcoming newsletter, which reaches over 2,000 members worldwide, will feature an article written by Chuck about the SS United States accompanied by pictures of the ship during her heyday.

 

 

The Florida Chapter of the Conservancy met earlier this month in Deerfield Beach, FL. Although several topics were covered, much of the discussion revolved around the Chapter survey results regarding the future direction of the Chapter. 

 

After reviewing responses to the survey previously sent to Florida Chapter members, it was decided that activities would be split between three different regions to allow members in various parts of the state to participate.

 

Two additional regional sub-chapters will be formed -- one in the Tampa/western part of Florida run by Steve Vincent and one in the northeast part of the state run by Dotty Duddy. Andy Herdan will continue to lead the chapter in the southern part of the state, and remain the main point-of-contact for the three Florida chapters. Membership meetings will be alternated among the three regions.

 

 

An SS United States Conservancy delegation visited the SS Rotterdam in the Netherlands last week. The 748-foot-long "Dutch Flagship" has been beautifully restored as a stationary mixed-used attraction and features a hotel, convention center, office space, restaurants and bars, and a museum. 

Conservancy Executive Director Susan Gibbs and European Chapter chair Mario Alvarez-Garcill�n were welcomed by Steamship Rotterdam Foundation Chairman Klaas Krinjen who, together with Ronald Aker, led a tour of the ship's public rooms, bridge, engine room, and other historically-significant spaces. They also visited a display dedicated to the SS United States curated by SS Rotterdam historian and expert Aker.

The SS Rotterdam serves as an outstanding model for the Big U's restoration. Launched in 1958 by Queen Juliana, the ship opened as a mixed use hotel, hospitality center, and historic attraction in 2010.  Klaas Krinjen and his team of volunteers have done an incredible job with their ship, and the Conservancy looks forward to continued partnership and collaboration. Most of all, we look forward to welcoming our SS Rotterdam colleagues aboard the SS United States once she is freshly-painted and open for business!

 

 

Now when you make purchases on Amazon, a portion of the purchase price will be donated to the Conservancy at no additional cost to you! Just head over to smile.amazon.com and log into your Amazon account. By designating the SS United States Conservancy as your charity-of-choice, a portion of your purchase amounts will be donated to the Conservancy automatically! 

You're still shopping through Amazon, with all your Amazon or Amazon Prime benefits, saved purchases, favorites and wish lists. However, by starting at smile.amazon.com instead of just amazon.com, you're letting them know you'd like a portion of your purchase price to go toward the ship! Click on the image above to start shopping and donating today!

November 11, 1969:  United States Lines announces the retirement of the SS United States. At the time of her retirement, she had carried over 1 million passengers and steamed nearly 3 million nautical miles.

 

November 12, 1894:  Eight-year-old William Francis Gibbs watches SS St. Louis being launched, beginning his interest in ships.

 

November 12, 1952:  The Duke of Sutherland presents USL President John M. Franklin with the coveted Hales Trophy.

 

November 16, 1907:  The future Blue Riband holder RMS Mauretania begins her maiden voyage. William Francis Gibbs and his brother Frederic are passengers.

 

November 16, 1969:  The New York Times publishes an editorial, "Goodbye to the 'Big U'".

 

November 17, 1908:  Gwen Lux, the renowned sculptor who created the "Four Freedoms" sculpture in the SS United States' First Class dining room, is born.

 

November 17, 1953:  The 100,000th passenger sails aboard the SS United States.

 

November 21, 1964:  The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, linking the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island, opens. The SS United States passes under the bridge during the opening ceremonies.

 

November 26, 1954:  Both actor Marlon Brando and famed artist Salvador Dal� arrive in New York on board the SS United States. Brando had a party for the ship's crew during the crossing, reportedly bringing a guitar and two bottles of Scotch whisky.

 

December 5, 1931:  The SS Manhattan, the first ship to be purpose-built for United States Lines, is launched.

 

December 12, 1955:  Prince Rainier III of Monaco departs for America aboard the SS United States. Shortly after his voyage he proposes to his future wife, actress Grace Kelly. Both would sail aboard the United States several more times.

 

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