That difference in opinion has been present since the day the ship arrived in Philadelphia in July 1996. Here is how The Inquirer and Daily News covered the city’s reaction to the arrival of the SS United States:

The exact location of where the SS United States will be sunk along the Gulf Coast fhas not been set, but it is expected to be about 20 nautical miles south of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.

For the third time, the hulking, historic SS United States is set to leave Philadelphia. The ship moved from Pier 80 to 82 at high tide Friday, Feb. 14, around 2:45 p.m. On Monday, Feb. 17 ...

The luxury liner SS United States departed South Philadelphia Wednesday afternoon to begin a two-week journey to its eventual destination as the world's largest artificial reef off Florida's Gulf Coast.

The new owners of the historic ocean liner now say it will begin its journey out of Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Four U.S. presidents sailed aboard the SSUS along with other renowned figures like Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Jackie Gleason, Marlon Brando, Judy Garland, Charlton Heston, Joan Crawford, Walt Disney and Bob Hope.