The SS United States, the legendary ocean liner that carried presidents, royalty and some of Hollywood's biggest stars across the Atlantic, was slowly sinking off the Florida coast Wednesday evening in a controlled operation to create the world's largest artificial reef. Crews began flooding the nearly 1,000-foot vessel around 1 p.m. CT, but the final mission proceeded far more slowly than anticipated.
Most of the ship remained above the surface after sunset despite predictions that it could go under in less than an hour once flooded. The $13.5 million project marks a dramatic final chapter for a vessel that was once the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic. It was also renowned for the extraordinary roster of famous passengers who crossed the ocean aboard it during its 17 years in service, from 1952 to 1969.
They included four U.S. presidents, British and European royalty, Hollywood stars, musicians, artists and other cultural figures. The following list was compiled by Newsweek using research from the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, records and historical material from the SS United States Conservancy, and other historical accounts of the liner. Researchers at the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation have combed through surviving passenger manifests to identify prominent travelers aboard the ship, while the SS United States Conservancy has documented notable passengers and events from the liner's history.
Other celebrated passengers included Coco Chanel, Sean Connery, Gary Cooper, John Wayne and Walt Disney, according to the SS United States Conservancy. Not every famous passenger was human. In 1963, the Mona Lisa crossed the Atlantic aboard the SS United States while Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece was being transported to America for exhibitions in Washington and New York, according to the conservancy.
More than 3,000 workers helped build the SS United States in Virginia in 1950 and 1951. The liner made its maiden voyage in July 1952 and immediately established itself as a technological marvel. On that voyage, it broke the eastbound transatlantic speed record previously held by Britain's RMS Queen Mary, completing the crossing in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes.
It also broke the westbound record on its return journey. At 990 feet long, the SS United States is 108 feet longer than the Titanic. Its design also reflected Cold War-era national security concerns.
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