MuseumShip Blog

5 February 1895, USS Olympia C-6 was commissioned for the first time with Capt. John J. Read in command
Cruiser Olympia at Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA

30 January 1959, Des Moines-class heavy cruiser USS Salem (CA-139) was decommissioned at Norfolk. She was stored as part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. The ship was surveyed in 1981 for possible reactivation as part of the 600 ship navy project, and while the inspection results showed she was in excellent condition, funding for her and Des Moines reactivation could not be secured from Congress.
USS Salem - Quincy, MA

101 years ago today, on 9 December 1922, protected cruiser USS Olympia C-6 was decommissioned for a third and final time in Philadelphia and placed in reserve.
Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA

12 July 1991, Des Moines-class heavy cruiser USS Salem CA-139 was struck from the Naval Vessel Register.
Museum ship USS Salem, Quincy, MA

49 years ago today, on 22 November 1976, Cleveland-class light cruiser USS Little Rock (CG-4) was decommissioned for a second time and struck from the Naval Vessel Register.
Museum ship at Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, Buffalo, NY.

103 years ago today, on 9 November 1921, protected cruiser USS Olympia C-6 arrived at the Washington Navy yard from France carrying the body of the unknown soldier for internment at Arlington National Cemetery. This image shows the casket leaving the Olympia.
Museum ship at Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA

126 years ago today, on 9 November 1899, protected cruiser USS Olympia C-6 was decommissioned for the first time and placed in reserve.
Museum ship at Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA

133 years ago today, on 5 November 1892, protected cruiser USS Olympia (C-6) was launched at Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California, sponsored by Miss Ann B. Dickie, daughter of George W. Dickie, manager of Union Iron Works.
Museum ship at Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA

63 years ago today, on 26 October 1962, Gearing-class destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD 850), send a boarding party over to the freighter Marucla during the Cuban Missile Crisis. XO Reynolds obtained a copy of the merchantman's cargo manifest and checked it against bills of lading.
Museum ship Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. at Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA