- Joined
- Feb 23, 2013
- Location
- East Texas
I just returned from a trip to Philadelphia, famously home to Ben Franklin; that symbol of Rebellion and Revolution, Independence Hall; that other symbol of Abolitionism, the Liberty Bell; and far less-known, the cruiser USS Olympia, flagship of Civil War veteran Commodore George Dewey in the Spanish-American War Battle of Manila Bay. Launched in 1892, she remains a relic of a now-almost forgotten period of Imperialism and expansionism that nevertheless helped create modern America. Today Olympia looks remarkably ship-shape and is permanently moored together with the WWII through Vietnam-era submarine USS Becuna on downtown Philadelphia's Delaware Riverfront.
Iron-hulled Olympia was considered state-of-the-art in her day, but retains many features of earlier Civil War-era vessels, while at the same time incorporating innovations familiar to us here like her twin turrets.
Bow and stern views of Olympia aside Becuna; both are part of the excellent Philadelphia Maritime Museum and are toured with a combined ticket good for both vessels and the museum.
All this WOOD including paneling and furniture as well as decks was a surprise to me in what was supposed to be a "modern" warship; veterans of the Civil War like Dewey and other old salts must've felt right at home!
As can be seen, officer's had it rough - they still had to share their sumptuous quarters with large-caliber guns exactly as had their predecessors within the wooden walls of Men O' War of previous centuries!
Looking more like the pilothouse on a riverboat like the Delta Queen than the wheelhouse of an iron or steel-hulled warship, the above was nevertheless the command center for Olympia; nearby on the starboard deck brass "footprints" mark the spot where Commodore Dewey gave to the captain of his flagship the once-memorable order, "You may fire when ready, Gridley."
I have MANY more photos from my visit - some FIFTY in all - if you'd like to see more of Olympia, inside and out.
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