In a historic move, the iconic SS United States - once the world's fastest ship and longer than the Titanic - is set to be sunk off the coast of Destin, Florida, transforming into the world's largest artificial ocean reef. After years docked in Philadelphia, the vessel was relocated to Florida, where it will serve as a thriving habitat for marine life and an underwater attraction for sea enthusiasts. Despite efforts by activists to preserve the historic liner for museum exhibition, their calls fell on deaf ears, and the ship is now owned by a Florida county. In addition, plans for a land-based museum detailing the SS United States' storied history are also in the works. Known for transporting royalty and celebrities across the Atlantic from 1952 to 1969, the liner was frequented by notable figures such as Bill Clinton before he became president, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Marlon Brando, Coco Chanel, Duke Ellington, Salvador Dali, Walt Disney, Judy Garland, and Cary Grant. The ship made its final journey from Alabama to Florida on Monday, destined for a precision sinking operation on Wednesday without explosives.
In the past year, proposals for second life as a museum or floating hotel have been proposed but ultimately unsuccessful. For many years, the SS United States sat at various docks with different owners amidst ongoing legal battles. The SS United States Conservancy group tirelessly advocated to keep the ship afloat, but their efforts were in vain. According to Susan Gibbs, President of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of one of the ship's designers, she is glad that the ship's legacy will endure. "The SS United States has always been an unabashedly American symbol that brings people together," said Gibbs in a statement to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.