The SS United States, a record-setting ocean liner built at Newport News Shipbuilding, is nearing the end of its final journey to become an artificial reef off the Gulf Coast.

As fast as it was luxurious, the fabled ship will be sunk off the coast of Florida, marking the end of an era in maritime history. Multiple media outlets have chronicled its final trip from Philadelphia down the East Coast. Future generations will benefit from the unique diving experience as the ship is transformed into a reef, a move that will also benefit marine life.

The visionary William Francis Gibbs, a naval architect and marine engineer, designed the ship. It was christened at NNS on June 23, 1951, and considered a marvel of engineering for its time.

Its sleek design and unique construction allowed it to set the transatlantic speed record. Its top recorded speed was more than 38 knots, about 44 miles per hour, according to the SS United States Conservancy. Today’s modern cruise ships travel at around 28 miles per hour.

The advent of transatlantic air travel eventually eclipsed the need for ocean liner transit.