At nearly 1,000 feet long, the SS United States was more than 100 feet longer than the Titanic. Two red, white and blue funnels were the tallest ever to be installed on a ship — at 65 feet they were as tall as a six-story building.

First launched in 1951, the SS United States holds the record for the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic Ocean in either direction. She was in operation until 1969, during which time four US presidents sailed aboard her: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy and Bill Clinton.

Four propellers, each 18 feet in diameter were made to rotate in either direction, allowing the ship to efficiently move forward or backwards.

Throughout its 17 years on the high seas, some of the ship's most famous passengers included four U.S. Presidents...Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy and a young Bill Clinton.

Radar was a relatively new technology in 1952 and the SS United States was among the first ocean liners to use it. The radar mast was also one of the highest points on the ship, so in addition to her radar "eyes," a lookout could be stationed there to warn the captain of any danger in the ship's path.

Steam from the boilers turned four Westinghouse double-reduction geared turbines, each one connected to a drive shaft.