News

Message from Conservancy Executive Director Susan Gibbs
Posted: October 31, 2011

The SS United States Conservancy will soon launch its annual fundraising appeal. We have the funding in hand to take care of the SS United States for only one more year. Your continued support will give our national flagship a chance at a future. No amount is too big or too small.

Conservancy donors are inspired by the SS United States for many reasons. In explaining her recent $10,000 gift, Marie Prewett writes, "Especially in times like these, we must save a symbol of America's perseverance and resilience... For future generations, she represents the ability that we once had, then let drift away, but can — and will — reclaim."

As always, to make a tax-deductible donation in support of the Conservancy's predevelopment and historic preservation efforts, please click here.

One major focus of the Conservancy's fundraising efforts is our future shipboard museum. I recently delivered a presentation to the International Congress of Maritime Museums, a gathering of museum executives from 22 countries. Panels examined evolving museum visitor expectations, new revenue models, and trends in innovative interactive exhibits. The Conservancy recently launched its own curatorial planning process: What stories should our museum tell? What can the SS United States teach us about the American dream? Our Cold War history? Advances in steam propulsion? The immigrant experience? The "Mad Men" era? We look forward to receiving your thoughts and suggestions as we continue to refine our curatorial plans.

We always love hearing from Conservancy supporters. Eight-year-old Elliot Lehmann recently wrote to tell us to tell us not to scrap the SS United States. He asked us to "look out for the ship carefully. There are no more German U-boats or sea mines. There may be icebergs. If there are, just be careful. And turn in time."

Elliot Lehmann: We vow to turn the ship in time. And we promise to work our hearts out to save the SS United States for your generation and those that follow behind.

Susan Gibbs
Executive Director
SS United States Conservancy