Credit: Okaloosa County/Cover Images The historic ocean liner the SS United States embarked on its final journey from Philadelphia to the Gulf of Mexico, where it will be sunk and transformed into the world’s largest artificial reef.

After months of multiple delays, the SS United States finally left its longtime home of Philadelphia just before 1 p.m. ET Wednesday. The storied ocean liner’s next stop is Mobile, Alabama, where it will be prepared for its final mission – to become an artificial reef off the coast of the Florida Panhandle.

Almost three decades later and with more than $40 million spent on rent, insurance, and feasibility studies, the SS United States — the dilapidated 990-foot ship that adorned or blemished the Delaware River waterfront, depending on whom you ask — has finally left Philadelphia.

The SS United States is getting towed down the East Coast on its way to the Florida panhandle, where it will be sunk and turned into an artificial reef.

An ocean liner which hosted Marilyn Monroe and Dwight Eisenhower is on its final journey to the bottom of the sea in Florida. The historic SS United States ocean liner is set to become the world’s largest artificial reef after leaving its moor in south Philadelphia‘s Delaware River waterfront.