SS United States

[cecil]

In trouble

Cecil

 

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-historic-ship-philly-short-funds-time-064434914.html

 

[hexnut]

Ships moored in Philly are having a tough time finding funding.  After all that the Olympia has been going through...

[realworkingsailor]

Doesn't matter where they are.. without a s#!t load of money (like millions upon millions of $$) and government support, it's hard to keep these relics of the past. Britain does it much better, where they provide funding through their National Lottery to keep historic sites, machinery, and ships open to the public.

 

Andy

[augie]

It's a shame....she was quite a ship.  I guess it's time for the school kids to kick in their lunch money.  I remember doing that back in the 50's a few times but I'll be darned if I remember for what vessels.

[runner63]

I don't remember the dates but the kiddies did it for the Constitution "Old Ironsides" many years ago

 

runner63

[TBlack]

Runner63,

 

It was in 1830 when Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. penned the poem that begins: "Aye, tear her tattered ensign down..." that galvanized the salvation effort for Old Ironsides.

 

Maybe we need a new poet for the United States?

 

Tom

[nfafan]

This country doesn't spend on badly-needed mental health support for the masses, let alone historic one-offs. Maybe Carnival Cruise could do better sailing this after getting it refurbed.

[Matrim]

Lets not start introducing politics please otherwise the thread will be locked.

[Gregory]

I'm rebooting this because I recently came across this five part documentary..

 

SS United States: Made in America

 

A nice walk down memory lane.

 

I remember seeing the Revell kit at the five and dime in the 50's...  It's price, probably less than $5 at the time was way out of my budget..

[Rathgeber]

I have been trying without great success to obtain a set of plans for the SS United States. I believe that I have acquired as a gift from a nice little lady the original model made by popular mechanics in 1953. She intended it to be donated to the Independence Seaport Museum and it needs some TLC. I was hoping to obtain a set of plans showing the rigging but so far I have struck out. I have cut outs from the magazine Popular Mechanics 1953 which were the plans to build the model but they are somewhat crude. Anyone out there that can help me I would be forever in your debt.

Richard Rathgeber, past president Philadelphia Ship  Model Society

rrathgeber@usa.net

[Gregory]

Have you tried contacting  the SS United States Conservancy?

[Rathgeber]

yes I did  and unfortunately they were unable to help with plans.  I did travel to Mystic Seaport and was able to photograph  a spectacular 10 foot model of the  United States. Now that is going to be  a sunken reef I would hope that the model they have at  Mystic Seaport  could be displayed someplace. I believe it is a model builders model and is absolutely amazing. Rick