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.

After months of delays, the historic SS United States ocean liner finally moved out of Philadelphia today on a new voyage as it prepares to become the world's largest artificial reef off the Florida coast in the Gulf of Mexico.

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,