Sitting in Philly’s waterfront for nearly a decade, the once-proud, now rusty and bare, ocean liner may some day sail again. The SS United States Conservancy has raised nearly a million dollars to fund beginning restoration of the former luxury liner.

Nicknamed as America’s Flagship when she first sailed in 1952, she also boasted the record as the fastest cruise ship on the seven seas. The record of sailing from New York to England’s Cornwall was three days, ten hours and 40 minutes, and it hasn’t been beaten since. Familiar names of the day who sailed on the cruise ship include John Wayne, Bob Hope, Princess Grace of Monaco, Salvidore Dali, Rita Hayworth, Harry Truman, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Duke Ellington headlined the ship’s passenger lists

For more info, go to www.ssusc.org