A legendary piece of American maritime history is about to make her final voyage—but this time, straight to the bottom of the Gulf.
On November 12, weather permitting, the historic SS United States is scheduled to be deliberately sunk approximately 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin–Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where the 990-foot ocean liner will become the world’s largest artificial reef.
Once the fastest ocean liner in the world, she set a transatlantic speed record on her maiden voyage in 1952 and spent her tenure carrying luminaries, royalty, and high-profile dignitaries from Grace Kelly to Walt Disney.
After decades out of service, the grande dame has been in Mobile, Alabama, since June 2025, undergoing extensive environmental remediation in preparation for her new underwater home. On the Gulf floor, she’ll create habitat for marine life and a new destination for divers, finding renewed purpose rather than ending up in a scrapyard.
For those hoping to witness history, Okaloosa County is hosting a public sendoff ceremony November 11; on November 12, a live viewing party of the “assisted sinking” begins at 9 a.m. at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar in Destin, with an online livestream also planned. (Floridians really will throw a party for anything.)
The SS United States Conservancy is also developing a land-based museum to preserve the ship’s remarkable legacy. And while her days crossing the Atlantic in high style are over, America’s Flagship will make history once again—this time beneath the waves.