Philippine connection in Philadelphia
Sept 23, 2016 1:28:39 GMT 8
EXO, Karl Welteke, and 3 more like this
Post by beirutvet on Sept 23, 2016 1:28:39 GMT 8
At Penn's Landing in Philadelphia on the Delaware River sits a little known museum called the Independence Seaport Museum. Part of this museum is the USS Olympia, cruiser #6. It is the worlds oldest steel warship still afloat. Commissioned in 1893, it served till 1922. But more importantly for us, it was the flagship of Commodore George Dewey during the battle of Manila in 1898 during the Spanish American war. The conclusion and resulting peace treaty, of course, gave America the possession of Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico AND the Philippine Islands launching the U.S. as a world power.
In 1966, at the age of 11, my classmates and I went on a class trip that included a visit to this storied vessel. Of course, at age 11, I had no appreciation of this ship, where it had been, what it had done, and I certainly had no idea who this admiral was whom I had never heard of. I was not alone in this mindset. I, along with all of my classmates just thought it was a cool old ship with big guns we got to see and touch.
Now, with a better understanding and unwavering love of history, I once again visited this icon of naval power.
Enjoy
In this bow-on pic, even though it has been sealed, you can still see the torpedo tube on the bow about 8' above the waterline.
Here on the port side you see one of its 5" breech loading guns. The tarp was protecting their restoration efforts.
This is the officers lounge area. The louvered doors you see are the officers private quarters. Each officer had his own stateroom. Class distinctions were very prevalent then as you can see so much space devoted to the officers while the enlisted men's berthing area doubled as their mess deck as well.
This is an example of an average officers stateroom. It is private, and so much more spacious than what you will find on a modern day war vessel.
Officers Ward Room
I believe this to be one of the many 6 pounders aboard. Perhaps we could get Batteryboy to give us a definitive answer.
Commodores Ward Room
Crew berthing/mess deck
Being coal powered, you had to get rid of the coal ash somehow.
Pharmacy
Surgery
I love this picture! Looking through one of the port side portholes, you see what naval power will become in exactly 50 years. Commissioned in 1943, that is BB 62, the USS New Jersey across the river on the New Jersey side.
Crew's head
One of the 5" breech loaders. Somewhere deep in my mothers box of long forgotten family photographs is a picture of an 11 year old boy manning this very gun. I felt reunited and glad it was still there.
Another 5"er
All her major engagements were commemorated but this one is special.
Ice Machine
Cutting edge technology,,,,, even in 1893!
Galley
My wife perked right up when she saw this sign outside the ships bakery. Pan de Coco is a bread with grated sweet coconut inside and Buko Bibingka is a kind of rice cake. I thought it fitting for them to have Philippine pastries listed aboard.
This is the port side of the Commodores stateroom. All the comforts of home including a fireplace. The television you see was playing an endless loop of actual film footage of when the USS Olympia went to Europe to bring home the body from WWI that would be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
Commodores state room, starboard side.
And of course, the Commodores Commode.
Signal Bridge
The coveted Ships Bell
This was as close as anyone can get to the main armament 8" guns. As you can see there are too many things to trip over on the forward deck, I am sure liability has something to do with it. There are 2 guns in one turret forward and 2 guns in one turret aft.
Outside the bridge they have marked the spot where Dewey directed the battle after speaking his casual yet immortal words, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley".
As you can see the foot print markers just to the side of the telegraph, I was impressed how exposed the Commodore was during the battle. Exposed for all to see, including the enemy. you can see one of his 8" batteries a scant 20' away
This sight really blew me away. Here you see the bridge which has the ships wheel, a compass and a telegraph, and that is it!
PSA
Aft 8"ers
Proud Lady, still with us.
After having been on the Battleship New Jersey just the day before this, it was eerie looking at naval power from so long ago. Even as old as the New Jersey is, it is still constructed very much like navy vessels of today. The USS Olympia, however, is from an era so long ago that it is truly like stepping back in time. You can see my USS New Jersey pictures in the category of 'WWII then and now' under the thread 'Halsey's flagship, Leyte Gulf'. If you are ever in Philadelphia, I highly recommend seeing both of these beautiful ships. You will not be disappointed.
In 1966, at the age of 11, my classmates and I went on a class trip that included a visit to this storied vessel. Of course, at age 11, I had no appreciation of this ship, where it had been, what it had done, and I certainly had no idea who this admiral was whom I had never heard of. I was not alone in this mindset. I, along with all of my classmates just thought it was a cool old ship with big guns we got to see and touch.
Now, with a better understanding and unwavering love of history, I once again visited this icon of naval power.
Enjoy
In this bow-on pic, even though it has been sealed, you can still see the torpedo tube on the bow about 8' above the waterline.
Here on the port side you see one of its 5" breech loading guns. The tarp was protecting their restoration efforts.
This is the officers lounge area. The louvered doors you see are the officers private quarters. Each officer had his own stateroom. Class distinctions were very prevalent then as you can see so much space devoted to the officers while the enlisted men's berthing area doubled as their mess deck as well.
This is an example of an average officers stateroom. It is private, and so much more spacious than what you will find on a modern day war vessel.
Officers Ward Room
I believe this to be one of the many 6 pounders aboard. Perhaps we could get Batteryboy to give us a definitive answer.
Commodores Ward Room
Crew berthing/mess deck
Being coal powered, you had to get rid of the coal ash somehow.
Pharmacy
Surgery
I love this picture! Looking through one of the port side portholes, you see what naval power will become in exactly 50 years. Commissioned in 1943, that is BB 62, the USS New Jersey across the river on the New Jersey side.
Crew's head
One of the 5" breech loaders. Somewhere deep in my mothers box of long forgotten family photographs is a picture of an 11 year old boy manning this very gun. I felt reunited and glad it was still there.
Another 5"er
All her major engagements were commemorated but this one is special.
Ice Machine
Cutting edge technology,,,,, even in 1893!
Galley
My wife perked right up when she saw this sign outside the ships bakery. Pan de Coco is a bread with grated sweet coconut inside and Buko Bibingka is a kind of rice cake. I thought it fitting for them to have Philippine pastries listed aboard.
This is the port side of the Commodores stateroom. All the comforts of home including a fireplace. The television you see was playing an endless loop of actual film footage of when the USS Olympia went to Europe to bring home the body from WWI that would be buried in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
Commodores state room, starboard side.
And of course, the Commodores Commode.
Signal Bridge
The coveted Ships Bell
This was as close as anyone can get to the main armament 8" guns. As you can see there are too many things to trip over on the forward deck, I am sure liability has something to do with it. There are 2 guns in one turret forward and 2 guns in one turret aft.
Outside the bridge they have marked the spot where Dewey directed the battle after speaking his casual yet immortal words, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley".
As you can see the foot print markers just to the side of the telegraph, I was impressed how exposed the Commodore was during the battle. Exposed for all to see, including the enemy. you can see one of his 8" batteries a scant 20' away
This sight really blew me away. Here you see the bridge which has the ships wheel, a compass and a telegraph, and that is it!
PSA
Aft 8"ers
Proud Lady, still with us.
After having been on the Battleship New Jersey just the day before this, it was eerie looking at naval power from so long ago. Even as old as the New Jersey is, it is still constructed very much like navy vessels of today. The USS Olympia, however, is from an era so long ago that it is truly like stepping back in time. You can see my USS New Jersey pictures in the category of 'WWII then and now' under the thread 'Halsey's flagship, Leyte Gulf'. If you are ever in Philadelphia, I highly recommend seeing both of these beautiful ships. You will not be disappointed.