Updated

The former ocean liner SS United States has come to rest on the ocean floor off Destin, Florida, and is now the world's largest artificial reef, Smithsonian Magazine reported on November 12, 2026. The 1,000-foot, 53,330-ton ship once carried celebrities and politicians across the Atlantic. Okaloosa County bought the ship for $1 million after its Philadelphia pier landlord raised dockage fees and it faced possible scrapping, and it was sunk as part of a plan for a reef and diving destination in the Gulf of Mexico. Officials expect red snapper, grouper, amberjack, mackerel and tuna to make their home there, and the ship will be open to divers. The Smithsonian article described the sinking as a difficult process, with water flooding in and the ship initially failing to go down before night fell. The wreck is becoming an underwater refuge for marine creatures and a destination for divers. The liner opened to the public on June 29, 1952, and set a transatlantic speed record that has not been surpassed by any passenger liner. Over its 17-year run it carried guests including Marilyn Monroe, Walt Disney and four presidents. After being decommissioned in 1969 and sitting in reserve for the Navy, it passed through many owners without a viable plan until it was evicted from its pier. The conservancy plans a museum near the pier to display the ship's smokestacks and artifacts.