For those living in the Philadelphia area the sight of the USS Olympia docked on the Philadelphia waterfront is an old and familiar one. The Olympia had a long and distinguished career in the United States Navy. She served as the flagship for Commodore George Dewey during the Battle of Manila Bay in the Spanish American War. It was on the Olympia where Dewey uttered the famous quote "You may fire when ready, Gridley". Olympia's Captain, Charles Gridley, then ordered the ships 8 inch guns to begin firing on the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. After distinguished service through two wars Olympia had the singular honor of transporting the remains of an unidenified World War I soldier from France to Washington DC where he now rests in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
Unfortunately, in recent years Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum, which has been the caretaker of the Olympia since 1996, has run into financial difficulties and they cannot afford to make critical repairs to the steel hull of the ship. This has forced them to begin exploring other options, including the sale of the ship, or possibly, sinking it off the coast of New Jersey for use as an artificial reef. Hopefully, they will be able to find an organization that will be able to spend the money to save the Olympia from destruction.
http://articles.philly.com/2011-03-08/news/28668831_1_dry-dock-independence-seaport-museum-caretaker
Modern Photo of USS Olympia
USS Olympia Circa 1901
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