The SS United States, the former luxury ocean liner that was parked in South Philadelphia for almost 30 years, has reached Mobile, Ala., faster than expected and in one piece, proving the skeptics wrong.

After being docked in Philadelphia for nearly three decades, the SS United States -- once the world's fastest ocean liner -- has arrived in Mobile, Al., ahead of schedule to be prepared to be turned into an artificial reef.

The SS United States is marking the end of the first leg of its journey to becoming the world's largest artificial reef.

The SS United States completed its long trip from Philadelphia to the Port City on Monday, but in many ways, its journey is just beginning.

After 12 days and 1,800 miles at sea, the historic liner SS United States arrived Monday in Mobile, Ala., for a year’s work of preparation before being sunk off Florida as an artificial reef. Th

The SS United States is towed to Alabama and draws onlookers to the East End of Dauphin Island on Monday, March 3, 2025. The historic ocean-liner is being towed to Mobile where it will be prepared for submersion as the world's largest artificial reef off the Florida Gulf Coast near Destin-Fort Walton. John Sharp

A chilly morning wind greeted the photographers and residents who gathered at the East End to catch a glimpse of history as the SS United States, following its journey from Philadelphia, was towed into Mobile. It is expected to arrive this afternoon to the Modern American Recycling & Repair Services facility at 601 S. Royal St., south of downtown.

The historic SS United States is seen off the coast of Palm Beach on Feb. 26, 2025 on its way to Mobile, Alabama to be cleaned before being sunk to create an artificial reef.

She came to existence in the 1950s as airplane travel started reaching its peaks. She went out of commission in 1969 and was passed to different owners, eventually rotting in the port of Philadelphia. Despite efforts from a conservancy, it was agreed that the ship would take one more trip down the Atlantic into the Gulf.