A historic cruise liner that once called New York City home is in dire straits as a conservancy group works hard to restore the ship to her former glory. NY1's Valarie D'Elia filed the following report.

In her glory days, the SS United States was the pride of maritime America, breaking the transatlantic speed record on her maiden voyage.

Since 1996, she is sitting as a shell of her former self, rusting forlornly in Philadelphia. Now in a race against time, she clings to life like the peeling paint that sadly defines her.

The ship's fate now rests in the hands of the SS United States Conservancy, who recently gave NY1 a private peek back in time.

The conservancy is working full steam ahead to bring the ship back to New York where she was docked from 1952-1969. They are on a spring deadline to rope in a developer with a boatload of cash -- in the vicinity of $300 million -- to turn her into a hotel and tourist attraction.

"It would be great to see the SS US back on the Hudson, it would be a crown jewel of the Hudson River Park," says Dan McSweeney, managing director of the SSUS Redevelopment Project.

Despite no active discussions with Hudson River Park, the conservancy remains undaunted.

"I still recall the absolute luxury of this ship, undeniable no matter what age you are," says Rosalyn McPherson of the SSUS Conservancy.

McPherson was a little girl in 1958 when she sailed with her mom and dad, now she’s behind the museum she hopes to see revive the empty deck.

For Dan McSweeney, it’s not just business either. His Dad was a steward on the ship. He's on a personal mission to keep the beloved oceanliner permanently docked on the National Register of Historic Places and out of the scrapyard.