Back in February of last year, the Independence Seaport Museum announced that it could no longer afford to care for USS Olympia, the flagship of Commodore George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War in 1898.  There was open discussion of scrapping or sinking the historic ship if a new owner could not be found. Ironically the museum, plagued by scandal and financial malfeasance, lacked the funds to dredge around the Olympia so that she could be the vessel could be towed away from her berth on the Delaware River in Philadelphia.

Now, slightly over a year later, the Olympia’s rescue is not assured, but there are at least four groups trying to save her.   In addition to the South Carolina Olympia Committee and the Navy Yard Association of Mare Island, the Friends of the Cruiser Olympia is working to keep the ship in Philadelphia while Save USS Olympia, Inc. seeks to move the ship to Baltimore.

Four Groups Vie for USS Olympia Custody