SS United States made its maiden voyage from New York to Le Havre in 1952.
The liner departed New York on 3 July 1952 and arrived in France on 7 July. On that first eastbound crossing, it captured the Blue Riband for the fastest scheduled transatlantic passenger service, surpassing the record set by RMS Queen Mary.
SS United States was built by the United States Lines and entered service as a symbol of American engineering and national prestige. Its propulsion system produced exceptional speed, but the ship was also designed with fire safety in mind. Much of its interior used lightweight materials, and the vessel was constructed partly with military conversion requirements in mind.
The ship's commercial career ended in 1969 as jet aircraft reduced demand for long-distance liner travel. It was later laid up and moved several times. The vessel has remained a celebrated example of the final generation of fast Atlantic liners.