Cruiser Olympia, the oldest steel warship afloat, but for how long?
The day after Philadelphia’s tall ship, the newly repaired, Gazela, arrived in New York harbor, an article in this morning’s New York Times focussed on the three historic ships in trouble on the Delaware River, in or near Philadelphia – the Olympia, the battleship New Jersey and the passenger liner SS United States. Sadly, the arguably most historic of the three ships, the Olympia, is the ship at the greatest risk with no currently viable rescue plan.
Efforts in Philadelphia to Save Showpiece Ships
They made an impressive display of America’s seafaring might, the aging maritime stars moored along both sides of the Delaware River.
There is the 1892 cruiser Olympia, the oldest steel warship afloat, whose guns and those of the ships it led blasted away a Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, announcing America’s arrival as a naval power. The ocean liner United States still holds the record for fastest westbound trans-Atlantic crossing. And the nation’s most decorated battleship, the World War II-era New Jersey, repelled swarms of enemy aircraft.
But to their devoted keepers, the state of the historic trio is a depressing comedown from past glories. The ships are struggling in a world of threadbare private support and unpredictable government grants. Two of the three have barely avoided closing, or worse, with cash infusions that buy time but fall far short of saving them.
The most endangered, the Olympia, a National Historic Landmark, needs $10 million for hull repairs or it could go to a watery grave within three years, inspectors say. The owner, the Independence Seaport Museum, may close the ship this fall and dump it at sea to make an artificial reef. The museum and its ships have drawn about 90,000 visitors annually.
The hollowed-out United States has been rusting downriver since 1996, awaiting its last voyage to the scrapyard. A Philadelphia philanthropist, H. F. Lenfest, donated $5.8 million in June to buy the ship for a conservancy, which is pursuing development schemes, but the effort faces long odds.
The battleship New Jersey, docked in Camden, is in good shape physically, but it was nearly forced to close this summer after the State of New Jersey threatened to cut off $1.7 million in financing, about half its budget. Its paid staff was cut to 11, from 58 people four years ago, who oversee 250,000 visitors yearly.
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Disgraceful ! Here we have the vessel that took Dewey to victory in Manila Bay, ready to be sent to a fate her enemies could not force upon her. Then there’s the namesake vessel of this country, a technological marvel even to day, waiting for the breakers. Shame on you America, shame ! How can we not recognize and remember our history ? Have we become so enamored of profit above all else that we’ll sacrifice our historical mementos for the sake of a few dollars ?
Indeed I have to fully agree with CAPT. Weglein. However given the present trend, led by the current ‘Administration’ it is not surprising to throw away our American values. As our Constitution states “We the People” will have to save our history in addition to having to save our country. Perhaps a nautical tea party in line with the original one shall save the day.
Good Watch.
The problem with the Olympia is not simply incompetence and mismanagement but also outright theft. The former Independence Seaport Museum president John S. Carter pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and tax evasion in 2007 and is now serving a fifteen year sentence in federal prison for using the museum as a personal piggy bank.
Capt. Boucher would do well to remember that it’s not the Federal Government that is responsible for this situation; it is the private sector and State governments that have dropped the ball here. Attempting to inject divisive political rhetoric into the debate to score political points for a particular political viewpoint only makes it more difficult to secure funding to save these vessels as it can alienate 50% of your potential funding base.
Smooth sea never made a skillful sailor…
It is sad that these vessels are in danger, but not a surprise. The liner has extremely limited appeal, as it was a money loser even when new, and other than being fast she is of no historical significance. The only liner museum ship, the SS Quuen Mary, has been a financial bust ever since she was towed to LA, so why would anyone want to make that same mistake?
Olympia is a relic from almost 100 years ago, from a war few even know about today. She has been struggling for decades, and her first museum group went bankrupt years ago. The fact that she draws only 90,000 visitors a year when tens of millions of people live within a couple hours of her shows that the ship is simply in the wrong place.
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