CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT FOR SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTEDO NOT
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The SS United States Our US Flagshiplast remaining US Ship of
State Fastest ocean liner ever, world record holder, 44+ mph
Largest US-built linernearly 1,000 long, 700,000 2 Top-Secret
Cold-War weapon funded by DoD with massive propulsion/reserves In
48 hours, could convert to troop ship, steam 10,000 miles without
re-fueling w/15k troops & gear CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT
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Today: Waiting in Philly This is a crime against shipbuilding,
a crime against history, to let such a ship die such a miserable
death. Walter Cronkite, 2007 CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT
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A blank slate Recently rated: 93% hull strengthneeds exterior
paint, but is clean, safe, sound Previous owners stripped asbestos,
interior fittings: prep for re-fit that didnt happen Perfect for
moored adaptive reuse: museum, convention/exposition space First
Class Dining, 1952, Now CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE4
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Where? CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE5
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6 Proposed DC Mooring CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE
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SW Washington DC Attractive, under-utilized waterfront on Ohio
Dr. SW Minutes walk from National Mall, Tidal Basin, Memorials, SW
Wharf CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE7
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Imagine 1/10 th width of the Washington Channel; not an
impediment to navigation Huge new museum/conference space (more on
that in a moment) Fitting new iconic landmark for DC CONFIDENTIAL
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Imagine 700,000 square feet of museum development space From
Smithsonian Metro stop, same walking distance as Air & Space
Museum Completes SW Wharf concept with an anchor vessel
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Views (approximated) Level, low-slung surrounding terrain and
architecture make the ship a skyline feature from hundreds of DC/VA
locations CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE11
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Views: Jewel in the Crown of Local Monuments CONFIDENTIAL
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From Arlington/Reagan Nat. EVERY flight landing & taking
off! CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE13
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From Tidal Basin Millions of Cherry Blossom tourists
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From Rosslyn CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE15
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From Iwo Jima Memorial CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT
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Smithsonians Role CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE17
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Smithsonian Institute Vision preserving our heritage sharing
our resources with the world. SS Unites States = one-of-a-kind
national treasure Future generations to SI: You saved all this
other stuff, why didnt you save that ship?? 18CONFIDENTIAL
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How? SS United States Conservancy Non-profit, all volunteer
owners of the ship Will deed the multi-million dollar SSUS to SI
Four conditions: 1. Restore and curate her in perpetuity, used as
SI sees fit 2. Use at DC waterfront location 3. Open to the public
(museum, exposition/research center) 4. Replicate a few, limited
spaces of the ship to 1950s appearance Tours/SSUS Museum, Fine
Dining 19CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE
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Fitting Possibilities: US National Maritime Museum Smithsonian
Center of American Industry & Innovation NPS Monument to Cold
War Technology NPS American Maritime History Memorial
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Can it be done? CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE21
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Yes! Intended Mooring Naval Engineers, Salvage Professionals:
Absolutely do-able! 1. Dry-dock paint/prep 2. Tow up Chesapeake 3.
Place over submerged raft of barges 4. De-water the barges, lifting
the ship to shallow draft CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT
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Barge Raft: 23 Simple, 47,000 ton raft arrangement: Fits
under/through Gov. Nice, Woodrow Wilson bridges Is there precedent?
Yes, daily. CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE
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Final MooringHow? Dredge channel mooring area only Ship &
raft to mooring Keep the ship on raft Barges 100% submerged Enables
future dry- docking in place Dredge 6 deeper, length of channel
Dredge a deep slot at the mouth of the channel Re-water the barges
to sink, float the ship Tow ship only to mooring 24 OR CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE
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SpitballsNew SI Museum Cost: $400 million Time: 36 months
(design/build) Local DC jobs during refit: 2,500-3,000 (plus local
industries) Long-term DC & SI benefit: Incalculable; huge new
museum center, just off the Mall National benefit to preserving our
US Flagship Non-negotiable 25CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT
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Ideas Accommodations For visiting SI VIPs Awesome location
Replicate lounges and First Class dining Museum cafs, after-hours
hot-spots Two large theaters Demos, lectures, panel discussions
Four enormous engine/boiler spaces Open one pair to tourspreserved
The other?? Walking bridge to SW Wharf 26CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT
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Next steps CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE27
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Proposed Study SI gets Exclusive Rights for Feasibility
Examination (6 mons?) SI covers a large percentage of
dockage/insurance Transfer On successful outcome of FE, SSUSC
transfers all rights/deed SI takes over ongoing protection of the
ship, re-design effort Move First to dry-dock shipyard for paint,
any mechanical removals Next to DC, final mooring site Re-Fit
Outfitting/build-out of new SI Museum/Center in DC Local jobs,
community buy-in, good PR for SI/ship 28CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT
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Rationale with Smithsonian Economy Small price for new 650,000
foot 2 museum next to National Mall Huge, long-term tax and
employment base, peripheral income in DC History Last of its kind
Our Nations ship, belongs in DC Why didnt you save the ship when
you had a chance? Location HIGHLY-visible for miles around Draws a
crowd to this developing area 29CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT
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Prepared for Smithsonian Institute, Dec, 2014 CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE30
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This cant be the end This is a crime against history... Walter
Cronkite, 2007 CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE31
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Shame As a capable, prosperous, and inventive nation,
collectively we should be ashamed OUR SHIP, this symbol of Cold War
US industrial prowess is not under | professional curation for
generations to come. CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT CIRCULATE32
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A fitting final port call 33CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT--DO NOT
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Lets do this, DC!! The newest, most exciting addition to the
National Mall, Smithsonian Institution collection, coming 2017!!
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