PHOTO CREDIT: Harry Kaemerle
The SS United States was the world’s fastest ocean liner built from 1950 to 1951. It served passengers for four decades before being stripped for parts and sent to Pier 82 in Okaloosa County, Florida where it remains to this day.
During the Pandemic the owners of this pier decided to double the rent, which led to trouble with the SS United States Conservancy. During the summer of 2024 the SSUS was ordered to be moved from its home in Pier 82 due to the renting dispute.The deadline was September 12 of 2024, however; at the last second Okaloosa County swooped in and bought it for 1 million dollars. The county’s plan is now simple, to turn the SSUS into the world’s largest artificial reef. They have set aside nearly ten million dollars for the project and estimate that it will take around one and a half years to complete.
But, some historical fans do not like this idea, as it requires a piece of US history to be sunk under water, almost giving the feeling of destruction.
When asked about the issue, @SS_United_States_fanboy, responded with “I was absolutely devastated. I’ve seen the ship in real life and to think about the history being lost is absolutely preposterous.”
Fanboy claims that there are better things that can be done to this ship besides sinking it, and would give people a chance to explore the history of it themselves.
“If I were Okaloosa county I would probably save her to become an event
space or museum,” said Fanboy.
As of 7/1/25, Okaloosa county has paid 100 thousand dollars in fines for the ship to be laid up in philadelphia.