S.S. United States

The S.S. United States at Pier 82 (Photo at http://picturephilly.com)

Catherine and I floated down to South Columbus Boulevard (nee Delaware Avenue) to explore the medium commercial zone (in Sim City-speak) offerings. We made land at the Wal-Mart, took on some supplies, and then cruised on over to the PLCB Wine and Spirit Special Collection Shoppe, for some fuel (cheer.)

Across the way, docked at Pier 82 just below Snyder is the ocean liner S.S. United States, the biggest ship ever built in the USA, It's 100 feet longer than the Titanic was and was faster than Cunard's Queen Mary. It's been at Pier 82 there since 1996. The United States is the sister-ship of the S.S. France, which I had boarded as a teen  to see parents off on a Caribbean cruise. They left me in charge of their maroon Pontiac Bonneville. Fiddling with the 8-track player on the White Horse Pike and...well, to make a long story short, I wasn't able drive to New York to pick them up.    

Here's a link to the S.S. United States Conservancy, which has more photos, information and ways you can help. 

Here's the obituary of its last skipper, Leroy. J. Alexanderson, who also landed Marines on Okinawa. .