The USS Olympia is the oldest steel warship still afloat in the US. The ship had served as Admiral Dewey's flagship in the US attack on the Spanish Philippines in 1898. It is preserved as a museum ship at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The USS Olympia was laid down in 1891 as a protected cruiser. The ship was designed as an ocean going commerce raider, according to the naval theories of Alfred Mayer, whose ideas on naval power were influential at that time. Her main armament was two twin turrets with 8 inch guns.with a secondary battery of ten 5 inch guns mounted in sponsons in the hull main deck and superstructure. 6 pounder guns were mounted around the ship for defense again torpedo boats.
As a protected cruiser, the Olympia had limited armor protection. Her main protection was to be her speed of 21.5 knots. Her machinery spaces were protected from plunging fire by an armored deck of 3-4.75 inch steel. Her turrets, magazines and the conning tower had 4.5 - 3 inch armor.
The Olympia shares a berth with the USS Bekuna a Second World War submarine.
Internally the ship has been restored to her 1898 specification. This includes a lot of wood paneling.
Officers quarters.
Officers mess room
Sailors hammocks on the main deck.
One of the 6 pounder guns.
Another view
One of the 5 inch secondary guns on the main deck.
The 5 inch gun breech
Depth charge room
Looking out from the secondary battery sponson towards the USS New Jersey, a Second World War battleship of the Missouri class. The USS New Jersey is preserved as a museum ship directly across the Delaware River. She can also be visited here https://www.battleshipnewjersey.org/
Another gun deck
A view of the USS New Jersey between the USS Olympia and the Moshulu sailing ship
The Moshulu is a four masted barque preserved at Independence Seaport. It operates as a floating restaurant. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshulu
The USS Olympia is an extremely important warship.
Visit the Independence Seaport and the museum ships here: https://www.phillyseaport.org/olympia
For more information about the USS Olympia's interesting and eventful career, check here: https://flagshipolympia.org/
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