image copyrightGetty Images
Once the world's fastest ship, longer than the Titanic and crossing the Atlantic hundreds of times, it will become the world's largest artificial ocean reef. To do this, it was deliberately sunk off the coast of Florida.
The SS United States was berthed in Philadelphia for almost 30 years before being moved to Florida. Now it will serve as a home for marine life and become an underwater attraction for divers.
Activists tried unsuccessfully to get it preserved and turned into a museum. Before the ship was purchased by Florida municipal authorities, several proposals were considered, in addition to the museum, it was proposed to use it as a floating hotel. However, none of the proposals were ultimately implemented.
While the legal proceedings were ongoing, the ship stood at different berths, passing from one owner to another.
After one of the Florida counties bought the liner, it was decided to turn it into one of the many artificial reefs off the coast. A museum, however, will also be created - on the ground, dedicated to the history of this ship.
End of Subscribe to our social networks and newsletters
From 1952 to 1969, before the SS United States was unexpectedly decommissioned, it carried royalty and celebrities across the Atlantic.
Marlon Brando, Coco Chanel, Duke Ellington, Salvador Dali, Walt Disney, Judy Garland and Cary Grant were on board.
Former US presidents Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and John Kennedy also traveled on this ship, and even before his presidency, young Bill Clinton sailed on it. When the Mona Lisa was brought to the United States from France in 1962-1963, it was transported back to the SS United States.
End of Most Popular
Last year, the SS United States was moved from Philadelphia to Alabama for cleanup and restoration work.
On Monday, the ship set off on its final journey - from Alabama to the city of Destin in Florida. On Wednesday, November 11, a high-precision operation to scuttle the ship was carried out, during which no explosives were used.
Susan Gibbs' grandfather participated in the design of the airliner. She heads the SS United States Conservancy, which tried to save the liner from sinking. Even though it didn't succeed, she said she was glad that the story of the SS United States would continue.
“It has always been a very American symbol that unites a lot of people,” she told CBS News, the BBC's American partner.
Download the new BBC World Service app!
When you first open the app, select "BBC News Russian Service" and receive notifications about important news, analysis, videos and podcasts.
Important: The new app is not available in the UK and US.
Find out more
Video playlist
End Video playlist
