There is no activity to report from Mobile, the N.Y. Coalition or the Preservation Foundation. The Coalition in particular seems dead. In addition, though not directly connected to the Reefing Project, there is no news concerning the SSUS Conservancy museum, their latest update (12 September) announces a T-shirt design contest! Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners As usual, the only news was made at the monthly Board meeting on 15 September. Consent agenda item 35 is a requ

When we think about the construction of the SS United States, it is easy to picture the enormous steel hull, the powerful engines, or the thousands of workers who transformed plans and raw materials into the fastest passenger liner in the world. But one of the most fascinating details of her construction involved something considerably smaller: Rivets. Workers are shown driving aluminum rivets in an assembly on plates adjacent to the United States. The Story of Frozen Rivets

Still, the question remained: where had the original offending sculpture been installed aboard the ship? It’s worth noting here that we mostly see the same photos of the SS UNITED STATES' interiors over and over again, and in all the available images, I’d never seen a picture of a bull anywhere aboard, and certainly not one that had been neutered. To further obscure the mystery, a bull is referenced in the famous 1984 Guernsey’s auction catalog as part of lot A539 described a

Mark Perry's Oceanliner and SS United States Collection Auction: The big event since my last update was not directly about the ship but about the auction sale Sunday, August 16 of the Mark Perry Collection. In size it was the biggest SS United States sale of memorabilia since the Guernsey auction in 1984. And this one was meticulously curated and included an amazing array of models. Fascinating to see some of what one dedicated collector was able to put together. Well done Ma

It is now public knowledge, that the current owners of the SS United States, (Okaloosa County) helped to secure access for roughly 40 people representing 10+ museum ships as well as the SS United States Conservancy for the purpose of removing artifacts and parts to be used in displays, and in some cases, to be put back to use after sitting idle for several decades. While many of these parts now sit in storerooms waiting for their calling in general purpose compartment upkeep/

by Charles Dragonette Board of County Commissioners regular meeting: (this was a 5 1/2 hour marathon!) With no SS United States Reefing Project item on the agenda there was no reason to expect any news from the meeting and there was none. If there’s any significance for us, it is that none of the on-going work requires Commissioners’ action or their vote. No public comment from visitors or any Commissioners’ Minute addressed the SS United States Reefing Project. To catch ever

By Mark B. Perry (Screenwriter & Novelist) There was no picture to accompany the Swann listing, just this tantalizing description: 419 • (UNITED STATES LINES.) United States. Small piece of a larger aluminum wall decoration designed by Purvis [sic]. Rather phallic looking piece of aluminum which was at one time a part of a much larger wall sculpture or decoration, 5×9 inches greatest dimensions: on a wooden mount with the label “Presented to the High Potentate of K. the B.B.”

By Mark B. Perry (Screenwriter & Novelist) If you’ve read my novel "And Introducing Dexter Gaines," you’ve probably guessed I have an obsession with ocean liners, with my favorite ship, the SS UNITED STATES, having a star turn as the maiden voyage setting for a rather significant plot point. This fascination started when I was around eight-years-old thanks to a chance viewing of the 1960 disaster film, "The Last Voyage," which was shot entirely aboard the very real 1920s era

By Charles Dragonette Chatting with people online and off, the appearance that activity swirls everywhere is hard to ignore. However, since 16 June when Okaloosa County approved the final Memorandum of Agreement with the Florida State Historic Preservation Officer and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that enables wrapping up the Army’s Section 106 review of Permit SAJ-1996-03565, there has not been a single thing reported affecting the ship or the reefing program. It’s business a