Every Philadelphian has seen this ship hundreds of times. We may see it for the last time soon.

That would be the SS United States — the fastest ocean liner in the world. Bigger than the Titanic and fast enough to water-ski behind, she’s a steamship so sophisticated, her capabilities remained a Cold War secret for decades.

She transported royalty and starlets. Her crew served frog legs in first class. Before the dawn of the jet age, the SS United States was the Concorde of her era.

via Fans of World’s Fastest Ocean Liner Put Out a Distress Call – WSJ.com.

It has a rich history and is an excellent candidate for a special kind of nautical and cold war museum. Seems like a waste to just scrap it.