USS Olympia (C-6) facts for kids
USS Olympia (C-6), port bow, 10 February 1902.
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Name | Olympia |
| Namesake | The City of Olympia, Washington |
| Ordered | 7 September 1888 |
| Builder | Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California |
| Laid down | 17 June 1891 |
| Launched | 5 November 1892 |
| Sponsored by | Miss Ann B. Dickie |
| Commissioned | 5 February 1895 |
| Decommissioned | 9 November 1899 |
| Commissioned | January 1902 |
| Decommissioned | 2 April 1906 |
| Commissioned | 1916 |
| Decommissioned | 9 December 1922 |
| Reclassified |
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| Refit | 1901, 1902, 1916 |
| Stricken | 11 September 1957 |
| Identification |
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| Nickname(s) | "Queen of the Pacific", "The Winged O" |
| Fate | Restored as Museum Ship |
| Status | Museum ship. |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Type | Protected cruiser |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 344 ft 1 in (104.88 m) |
| Beam | 53 ft (16 m) |
| Draft | 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m) |
| Installed power | 17,000 ihp (13,000 kW) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 21.7 knots (40.2 km/h; 25.0 mph) |
| Range | 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Capacity | 1,169 short tons (1,060 t) coal (maximum) |
| Complement | 33 officers and 395 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Armor |
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| General characteristics (1917) | |
| Armament | 10 × 5 in (127 mm)/51 cal Mark 8 guns (10×1) |
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Olympia
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USS Olympia (C-6) at the Independence Seaport Museum in 2007.
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 Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Penn's Landing Marina, South Columbus Blvd. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1892 |
| Built by | Union Iron Works of San Francisco |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000692 |
| Added to NRHP | 15 October 1966 |
The USS Olympia (C-6/CA-15/CL-15/IX-40) is a famous protected cruiser that served in the United States Navy. It was in active duty from 1895 until 1922. This ship became well-known as the flagship of Commodore George Dewey. He commanded it during the Battle of Manila Bay in the Spanish–American War in 1898.
After returning to the U.S. in 1899, the ship was taken out of service. However, it was brought back into action in 1902. Before World War I, Olympia was used as a training ship for naval cadets. It also served as a floating barracks in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1917, it was called back for war duty. It patrolled the American coast and protected transport ships.
After World War I, Olympia helped in the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War in 1919. It also sailed in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. These trips helped promote peace in the unstable Balkan countries. In 1921, the ship carried the remains of World War I's Unknown Soldier. It brought them from France to Washington, D.C.. His body was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Olympia was taken out of service for the last time in December 1922. It was then placed in reserve.
In 1957, the U.S. Navy gave the ship to the Cruiser Olympia Association. They restored the ship to look like it did in 1898. Since then, Olympia has been a museum ship in Philadelphia. It is now part of the Independence Seaport Museum. Olympia was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966.
The Olympia is the oldest steel American warship still floating. Repairs were needed to keep it afloat. In 2010, the Independence Seaport Museum thought about finding a new group to care for the ship. By 2014, the museum decided to keep the ship. It got money from donors and government agencies to start repairs. The museum reinforced weak areas of the hull. It also improved the alarm system and bilge pumping. Deck patching and rigging repairs were also done. This work was possible thanks to donations. By 2017, the first phase of repairs was finished. The museum is now raising $20 million to dry-dock Olympia. This will allow them to fix the hull where it meets the water.
Contents
Building a Famous Warship
When the U.S. government changed in 1885, the Navy began to update its ships. At first, the Navy focused on building ships that could attack enemy supply lines. These ships were called "commerce-raiding cruisers."
In 1887, the Navy decided to build two coastal defense battleships. These were the Texas and Maine. The government also approved two more cruisers. One of these was the large, protected cruiser that became Olympia.
Later, the Navy's ideas changed. A new Secretary of the Navy, Benjamin Tracy, wanted a battle fleet. This fleet would be strong enough to fight enemy fleets directly. So, the Olympia, which might have been the first of many similar ships, ended up being the only one of its kind.
Designing and Building Olympia
The design process for Cruiser Number 6 began in 1889. The main guns chosen were 8-inch cannons. There was much discussion about how many guns to use and where to place them. On April 8, 1890, the Navy asked companies to bid on building the ship. Only one company, the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California, offered to build it.
The contract cost was $1,796,000. The ship was supposed to be finished by April 1, 1893. The company was allowed to make the ship 10 feet longer. This was to fit the engines better, and it cost no extra money. The contract was signed on July 10, 1890. The ship's keel was laid down on June 17, 1891. Olympia was launched on November 5, 1892. However, there were delays in getting parts, like the new armor. The last small gun was not delivered until December 1894.
The first tests of Olympia happened on November 3, 1893. The ship reached a speed of 21.26 knots. But it was found that sea grass had stuck to the bottom of the ship. This slowed it down. The ship had to go into a dry dock for cleaning.
On December 11, the work was done. Olympia went to Santa Barbara for an official speed test. Heavy fog delayed the ship for four days. On the 15th, Olympia started a four-hour test. It reached an average speed of 21.67 knots. This was much faster than the required 20 knots. The new cruiser was officially put into service on February 5, 1895. For several months, it was the largest ship built on the U.S. West Coast.
Scientific American magazine compared Olympia to similar British ships. They said the American ship was "greatly superior." Olympia had more power, more armor, and heavier guns.
Ship Features
The Olympia is 344 feet 1 inch long. It is 53 feet wide and has a draft of 21 feet 6 inches. It was designed to weigh 5,865 tons. With a full combat load, it could weigh up to 6,558 tons. The ship has two large steam engines. Each engine gets steam from three coal-fired boilers. The engines were designed for 13,500 horsepower. This would give a top speed of 20 knots. But in tests, it reached 17,313 horsepower and a top speed of 21.67 knots.
The Olympia had a crew of 411 to 447 officers and sailors.
Weapons
Olympia had many weapons. Its main guns were four 8-inch guns. These were in two gun turrets, one at the front and one at the back. These guns could fire 260-pound shells. By 1916, these guns were old. They were removed and replaced with 5-inch guns in 1917.
The ship also had ten 5-inch guns. These were mounted in special armored rooms along the sides of the ship. These guns fired 50-pound shells. They were also replaced with 5-inch guns in 1917. There were fourteen 6-pounder guns for fighting small torpedo boats. Six 1-pounder guns were on deck. The ship also had six 18-inch torpedo tubes for firing torpedoes. In 1898, Olympia also had two Gatling guns, revolvers, and rifles.
Armor
The Olympia had strong armor to protect it. The conning tower, where the ship was controlled, had 5-inch thick steel plates. The ship's deck had 2-inch thick armor. This armor was thicker on the sides, up to 4.75 inches. A 4-inch thick armored plate protected the engine rooms. The main gun turrets had 3.5 inches of armor. The bases of the turrets had 4.5-inch thick armor. The 5-inch guns were protected by 4-inch thick shields.
Olympia in Service
After being put into service in February 1895, Olympia left San Francisco. It went to the U.S. Navy's Mare Island Naval Shipyard for final preparations. Captain John J. Read was put in command. In April, the ship went to Santa Barbara for a festival. The crew also practiced landing drills. On April 20, the ship did its first gunnery practice. Sadly, one gunner was killed in an accident with a 5-inch gun. The ship's last test cruise was on July 27. After returning, it was sent to replace another ship as the flagship of the Asiatic Squadron.
On August 25, the ship left the United States for China. It arrived in Hawaii a week later. It stayed there until October 23 because of a disease outbreak. Then it sailed to Yokohama, Japan. On November 15, another ship arrived to transfer command of the Asiatic Squadron to Olympia. For the next two years, Olympia did training exercises. It also made friendly visits to various ports in Asia. On January 3, 1898, Commodore George Dewey took command of the squadron from Olympia.
Spanish–American War Hero
As war with Spain seemed likely, Olympia stayed in Hong Kong. It was made ready for battle. When war was declared on April 25, 1898, Dewey moved his ships to Mirs Bay, China. Two days later, the Navy ordered the squadron to Manila in the Philippines. A strong Spanish naval force was there. Dewey was told to sink or capture the Spanish warships. This would clear the way for U.S. forces to take over.
Battle of Manila Bay
On the morning of May 1, Commodore Dewey, on Olympia, sailed into Manila Bay. He went to fight the Spanish fleet. The Spanish ships were near the shore, protected by old coastal guns. Around 5:40 a.m., Dewey told Olympia's captain, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley". Gridley ordered the front 8-inch gun to fire first. This started the battle.
The Spanish gunners were not as accurate as the Americans. The battle quickly became one-sided. Dewey stopped the fight around 7:30 a.m. He thought his ship was low on ammunition. This was a mistake; the magazines were still full. He ordered the battle to start again after 11:15 that morning. By early afternoon, Dewey had destroyed the Spanish fleet and shore guns. His own ships were mostly unharmed. Dewey anchored his ships and accepted the surrender of Manila.
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News of Dewey's victory quickly reached the U.S. Both he and Olympia became famous. An army force was sent to take over the Philippines. Olympia stayed and helped by shelling Spanish forces on land. It returned to China on May 20, 1899. Then it sailed back to the United States. It went through the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. The ship arrived in Boston on October 10. After its return, Olympia's crew were celebrated. The ship was repainted and given a fancy bow ornament. On November 9, Olympia was taken out of service and put in reserve.
Before World War I
Olympia was brought back into service in January 1902. It joined the North Atlantic Squadron. Its first job was to be the flagship of the Caribbean Division. For the next four years, the ship patrolled the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. It even visited the Ottoman Empire. In 1903, it helped in an intervention in Honduras.
Starting on April 2, 1906, it became a training ship for students from the United States Naval Academy. It did three summer training cruises. Between cruises, the ship was kept in reserve. On March 6, 1912, Olympia arrived in Charleston, South Carolina. There, it served as a barracks ship until 1916. In late 1916, the ship was put back into service. It was becoming clear that the U.S. would soon enter World War I.
World War I Service
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After the U.S. joined World War I in April 1917, Olympia became the flagship of the U.S. Patrol Force. It patrolled the eastern coast of the U.S. for German warships. It also protected transport ships in the North Atlantic. On June 15, 1917, it ran aground in Long Island Sound. It went for repairs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Its old 8-inch and 5-inch guns were replaced with new 5-inch guns. This took eight months.
Olympia left Charleston on April 28, 1918. It carried troops to Russia. Russia was in the middle of a civil war. It had signed a separate peace with Germany. On June 9, 1918, the ship arrived in Murmansk, Russia. It deployed the peacekeeping force. It then helped in the occupation of Archangel against Bolshevik forces.
After the war, Olympia sailed to the Mediterranean. In December 1918, the ship became the flagship for American naval forces there. It continued to show the flag and make goodwill visits. This included policing duty in the Adriatic Sea from January 21 to October 25, 1919. The Dalmatian coast was in chaos after the end of the war. On April 1, 1919, it was in Spalato, now Split. On August 18, it went to the Black Sea. It helped refugees from the Balkans return home. It was back in the Adriatic Sea by September 19. Four days later, it had to send a landing party ashore. This was to prevent a fight between Italian and Yugoslavian forces.
Olympia briefly returned to Charleston on November 24, 1919. The next year, it was reclassified as CA-15. It then prepared for another tour of duty in the Adriatic. This ended on May 25, 1921, when the ship returned to Charleston. A month later, it became the flagship of the Atlantic Fleet's training unit. It then took part in joint Army-Navy experiments in July. During these, former German warships were sunk off the Virginia Capes. It was reclassified again as CL-15 that year.
On October 3, 1921, Olympia left Philadelphia for Le Havre, France. Its mission was to bring the remains of the Unknown Soldier home. He was to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The cruiser left France on October 25, 1921. French destroyers escorted it for part of the trip. At the mouth of the Potomac river on November 9, other U.S. Navy ships joined Olympia. It steamed to the Washington Navy Yard. After transferring the remains ashore, the cruiser fired its guns in salute. It did one last training cruise for midshipmen in the summer of 1922.
Saving the Olympia
On December 9, 1922, Olympia was taken out of service for the last time in Philadelphia. It was placed in reserve. On June 30, 1931, the ship was reclassified IX-40. This was to preserve it as a historic relic.
On September 11, 1957, it was given to the Cruiser Olympia Association. They restored it to its 1898 look. It became a museum ship. The main 8-inch guns and turrets, which were removed before World War I, were replaced with fake ones. In January 1996, the Cruiser Olympia Society joined with the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia. This was because of growing debt and needed repairs.
Today, Olympia is a museum at the Independence Seaport Museum. It is at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia. It is the only surviving ship from the U.S. Navy's Spanish–American War fleet that is still floating. Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps students from Villanova University and the University of Pennsylvania often work on Olympia. They help with maintenance. Parts of Olympia are also on display at the United States Naval Academy and Norwich University.
Historic steel ships should be put in a drydock for maintenance every 20 years. But Olympia has been in the water since 1945. Important repairs were estimated to cost $10 million. At first, the Museum thought about sinking Olympia to make it an artificial reef. But this idea was rejected. Plans were made to close Olympia to visitors in November 2010 due to lack of money. These plans were canceled. The Independence Seaport Museum agreed to keep the ship open. The U.S. Navy said it would let the museum "responsibly dispose" of the ship. This could mean transferring it, selling it for scrap, or sinking it. So, the museum held a meeting in early 2011. They met with the Navy and other groups to find ways to save the cruiser.
As a result, the Independence Seaport Museum (ISM) looked for another non-profit group to take care of Olympia. This group would be responsible for its maintenance and restoration. On March 6, 2011, the ISM published a Transfer Application. Several groups from different parts of the U.S. applied. Only four were found to be suitable. On May 7, 2011, the National Trust for Historic Preservation set up a way for people to donate money. These donations would go directly to the needed repairs. The Independence Seaport Museum, even though it wanted to give up the ship, will manage any repair work if funds become available.
In April 2014, the Independence Seaport Museum announced that it could not find a suitable organization. So, Olympia will stay in Philadelphia. The Independence Seaport Museum plans to start a $20 million national fundraising campaign. This money will be for the ship's long-term preservation.
Recent Preservation Efforts
The Independence Seaport Museum has renewed its promise to restore the ship. They have started several preservation projects. These projects were largely funded by grants and private donations. Over the past few decades, the Museum has spent over $10 million to maintain Olympia. Before 2014, some major repairs included removing asbestos and other harmful materials. They also made safety upgrades and planned engineering work.
In 2015, Olympia received grants to continue repairs on its hull plates and deck leaks. Between April and August 2015, parts of the hull at the waterline were cleaned and treated. This was done using a special device called a cofferdam. In 2017, the Museum replaced Olympia's old gangways for safer access. They also restored the signal bridge and skylights. They built copies of historic benches and tables.
In 2017, the Museum announced a big national fundraising campaign. They want to raise $20 million to drydock the ship. This will allow the hull to be fully repaired. These restoration efforts are part of a larger plan. The goal is to make the ship more accessible. It will also help educate the public about Olympia's history. In May 2017, the Independence Seaport announced a new exhibit. It is called "World War I USS Olympia" and opened on June 16, 2017.
Awards and Recognition
The USS Olympia received several awards for its service:
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| Dewey Medal | Navy Expeditionary Medal | Spanish Campaign Medal |
| Philippine Campaign Medal | Dominican Campaign Medal | World War I Victory Medal with "WHITE SEA" clasp |
Images for kids
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USS Olympia (C-6) at the Independence Seaport Museum in 2007.
See also
In Spanish: USS Olympia (C-6) para niños
