Former passenger Peter Dreher recently joined the SS United States Conservancy on a special limited-access curatorial tour of America's Flagship, joined by fellow passengers and crew members assisting with our ongoing Legacy and oral history projects. Peter was moved by the experience, and has generously shared his thoughts below: Former passenger Peter Dreher returns to the SS United States. Courtesy of Peter Dreher. Earlier this month, I had the rare opportunity to take a t

Immigration has always played a part in American history, and in the years following the Second World War, the SS United States played a major role. For Michael Pittner and his family, crossing the Atlantic aboard the SS United States was an American dream in itself: The Pittner family prepares to board America's Flagship. Photo courtesy of Michael Pittner. Michael Pittner remembers: My parents, my two brothers and I (then 11 years old) departed Germany and boarded the SS Uni

The SS United States Conservancy not only has dedicated supporters from all 50 states; America's Flagship also enjoys support from 35 countries! The ship played a crucial role in connecting the US with the rest of the world. She transported students, diplomats, and the families of servicemen and women overseas, as well as foreign dignitaries, heads of state, and immigrants beginning new lives in the new world. The Conservancy has members in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belg

Eugene Pittner emigrated from Germany aboard the SS United States in 1955 with his wife Emma, their eleven-year-old son Michael, fifteen-year-old son Winfried, and sixteen-year-old son Norbert. The Pittner family, 1955. Photo courtesy of Michael Pittner. Standing at the gangplank with mouths wide open from amazement of the size of the ship, we were photographed and later received the pictures onboard. Not only was the SS United States beautiful on the outside, but also the in

Millions of people immigrated to the United States during the 20th century. They came seeking new opportunities and a chance at their own version of the American Dream. After World War II, as Europe recovered slowly after years of terrible conflict, many chose to leave their homelands and start a new life in the United States. The SS United States carried many of these immigrants across the Atlantic Ocean to their new homes in America. Peter Paul came to the United States in

The great ocean liners of the 20th century served many purposes: they gave people across the globe the opportunity to travel and see the world; they transported soldiers and equipment to and from war; they delivered the mail and other goods vast distances; they carried immigrants across the sea to new lives abroad. Many of the people traveling on these ships — including aboard our nation's flagship, the SS United States — had only one way tickets, as they left their homelands