S.S. United States: From Ocean Giant to Sea Oasis

More than seven decades after its maiden voyage, the S.S. United States, once the pride of American shipping and larger than the Titanic, might soon write a new chapter in its history. The former "Queen of the Seas," which transported famous personalities like Elizabeth Taylor and John F. Kennedy across the Atlantic, could become the world's largest artificial reef, extending off the coast of Florida. On Tuesday, local authorities in Florida, together with the SS United States Conservancy, announced that Okaloosa County has approved a contract to acquire and sink the ship near Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Additionally, a land-based museum funded by local resources is planned to preserve the legacy of the proud ocean liner and make it accessible to visitors. Susan Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy, emphasized in a press release that transforming the world's fastest ship into the largest artificial reef could create a new tourist attraction—one that benefits the local economy and provides a new habitat for a variety of marine life. However, the journey to this new location is still long. The ship, currently anchored in Philadelphia, must undergo careful environmental preparation before its journey to the coast of Florida. Officials in Destin-Fort Walton Beach hope this process will be completed soon and are confident that the reef project will trigger a tourism boom, attracting diving enthusiasts from around the world.