The USS Olympia, rusting symbol of America's age of empire

The Washington Post ^ | November 28, 2010 | Chris Manteuffel and Rachel Manteuffel

[2ndDivisionVet]

PHILADELPHIA - The USS Olympia, docked at the Independence Seaport Museum on the Delaware River since 1996, is no ordinary warship. Built for about $2.1 million and commissioned in 1893, the vessel's got Victorian-era ice machines. She's got engines the size of 7-Elevens. If they fail, she's got sails, too.

She's got a printing press, bathtubs, furnishings fit for a gentleman's parlor and a prototype of a water cooler called a "scuttlebutt" around which sailors gathered and talked. She's gorgeous - a priceless artifact of American history, dominating Penn's Landing.

But pricelessness comes with a price. To keep the Olympia afloat, the Seaport Museum needs $20 million, but it hasn't come up with the cash. After spending more than $5.5 million in the past 14 years on the ship's upkeep, appealing to federal agencies for help that isn't coming and weathering a $1.5 million embezzlement scandal that landed its former director in jail for 15 years, the museum announced in February that it can't afford further maintenance. Within three years, experts estimate, the Olympia will fall apart. If it isn't saved, it will be dismantled for scrap or sunk to build an artificial reef off Cape May, N.J.

And with it will go a symbol of America's age of empire. When the Olympia was built, the United States was redefining itself as a global power, taking on expensive, elective wars in ever-more-distant places. The Olympia was the first step toward an imperial navy, the first steel American warship designed to cross an ocean to antagonize an enemy. If, in 1893, it wasn't yet clear who that enemy would be, the Olympia's design flaunted the symbolism of luxury - and the luxury of symbolism....

[clee1]

I’m going to go out on a limb here, but this old ship, while with an admittedly proud history, is NOT worth the cost to restore it.

If it is worth fixing, someone will pay to do so.

Our tax dollars should not be wasted to keep every old ship in museum condition.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sometimes we need to spend tax money in a worthy cause. Not everything is about money-making. If we lose our tangible history, how will we know where we’ve been?

[clee1]

I agree that history is important, but maintaining that history need not include the upkeep/maintenance of a 100+ y/o ship. We know what she did; we have written records and pictures of her accomplishments.

The USS Constitution is one thing... the Olympia is somewhat different to me.

What price do we pay? Where do we draw the line? Sorry, but this Nation has better ways to spend 20 million dollars - and I am not JUST talking about this one ship. We waste BILLIONS a year on all manner of “historical” items/places. Sorry but the Civil War battlefield of Snakes Navel Junction just doesn’t rate as high with me as Interstate repairs of the budget for ICE.

[sphinx]

Apart from the Dewey/Manilla Bay connection, the Olympia is one of a kind. It's not as if we had a couple dozen of these things sitting around and were debating one more or less. This is the last of the breed.

It's hard to believe $20 million can't be found for this. I don't know anything about the organization, management, and sophistication of the Seaport Museum, but my guess is that the custodians are simply not up to the task. Civic culture plays a role as well. No major city with a competent government would dream of throwing away such an asset, but this is Philadelphia.

A white knight needs to step in. The cost is a small fraction of what will be spent on Superbowl advertising. It's doable, provided the locals are willing to play ball.

I agree that just sitting around and waiting for government to come to the rescue isn't the best solution. But still .... the Obamites just threw away over $800 billion in stimulus money, and a project like this couldn't make the cut? IMHO, something is wrong with the local culture and management team. It is unfortunately not uncommon for opportunities to be missed and treasures to be lost because of failures of leadership.

[NTHockey]

Of course, let’s keep spending billions on a Department of Energy that has worsened our dependence on foreign oil, approved no new refineries, turned down efforts to build nuclear plants, sides with environmentalt terrorists against wind an solar facilities, and just plain says “NO” to everything.

Of course, lets keep spending billions in a Department of Education that has taken our education system from first to 16th in the world and turns out functional illiterates.

Of course, let’s keep spending billions on TSA to search us unconstitutionally and for ICE who won’t deport illegals.

Sorry pal, but “those who forget the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them.” George Satayana

[sphinx]

This is, by the way, an opportunity for the governor-elect. Yes, Pennsylvania is facing a budget crunch and the governor won't have $20 million to throw around casually. But he needs to convene a working group heavy on civic and business leaders and give them a mandate to save the Olympia. By all means the city and the Seaport Museum should be represented, but they should not be the controlling voices. They've already failed.

There are any number of philanthropists and major corporations who could write a check for this, and that would do so if asked properly. Part of the problem, however, is that Philly has bungled its riverfront. It's a classic example of the destructiveness of the automobile uber alles imbecility that has contributed to the destruction of so many urban cores.

Philly historically was one of the world's great seaports. Why anyone, once upon a time, thought it would be smart to drive an interstate highway along the riverfront, sever the city from the river, and make the Seaport Museum difficult to access is beyond me ... but that's the way the carheads think. The Olympia could and should be a premier attraction in one of the most attractive and dynamic parts of the city. There are a lot of mistakes to be undone before that will be possible, but that should be the goal. In the meantime, who's got $20 million?

[wally_bert]

A bit long but worth watching:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-bz7nYGxgo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa588EDwwiE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiaQdoC92Ls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRr2FltLwYI (Talks about early AC and refrigeration)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxkaD02iO1g

[television is just wrong]

too many people on the dole instead of working and supporting things like this.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Pretty much

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Anyone have a picture of this ship?

[sbMKE]

On Lake Michigan a 50-year old ferry almost got $14 million under the stimulus program. All because they need to clean up their act after getting caught dumping coal ash into the lake.

Their sob story was history and heritage and government overreach.

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/08/ludington_muskegon_again_battl.html

[Vince Ferrer]

Fishing ships still use ammonia based refrigeration.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Built for about $2.1 million and commissioned in 1893, the vessel’s got Victorian-era ice machines. She’s got engines the size of 7-Elevens. If they fail, she’s got sails, too. She’s got a printing press, bathtubs, furnishings fit for a gentleman’s parlor and a prototype of a water cooler called a “scuttlebutt” around which sailors gathered and talked.

---

What’s with the “she’s got” usage here? Whatever happened to “has”?

[Irenic]

too many people on the dole instead of working and supporting things like this.
__________________________________________________
Ya know, I’ve pondered the thought— politicians are on the dole.

I read about poorly and flamboyantly spent money by the GOP— “meal expenses jumped from $306,000 to $599,000”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33324.html

It seems most all of the candidates whine and beg for more and more money, there’s never enough.

John Conyers’ government-registered 2010 Cadillac Escalade, that his son was driving around. Why in the L do they need a Cadillac Escalade?! MSRP: $62,495

Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at age 62 if they have completed at least five years of service. The amount of the pension depends on years of service and the average of the highest three years of salary.
http://www.senate.gov/reference/common/faq/retirement_for_members.shtml

I’ve wondered if we should quit sending money to candidates/GOP and give directly to things we appreciate.

Adopt an elderly person w/o a family, this ship (I like the Hunley)...anything but give to those turds that don’t represent us once they get that seat.

My attitude is for chit of late, I have almost have given up on this mess.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/46780/
http://www.hunley.org/

[Oztrich Boy]

This is the last of the breed.

No. There is another

Cruiser Aurora. St Petersburg -

[Yardstick]

Thanks for that explanation. The 19th century was a great time for interesting inventions. The scale of things hadn’t gone nano yet so everything was very physical and had a great sculpural quality. Even electronic gizmos were interesting with their big coils and physical throw switches and stuff. I’ll bet one of these Victorian refrigeration systems would be fascinating to look at. Probably a total Rube Goldberg maze of tubing and valves and pressure meters — with lots of polished brass. It would be totally steam punk.

[Yardstick]

Thanks — I’ll check that out after work...

[television is just wrong]

all these positions should be a compensatory salary and have them hold down a real job in the real world. they would then not pass such ridiculous laws they would have to live with.

[urtax$@work]

Read about British colonials in the So. Pac islands using similar to make ice. Forget the name but would have been circa [very] early 1900s.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Ships are traditionally referred to as females.