The Aging Warship That Won the Spanish-American War Now Floats Quietly in Pennsylvania

The USS Olympia, Pennsylvania

The USS Olympia’s path to fame began with those nine words: “You may fire when ready, Gridley.”

As Admiral Dewey’s flagship, this steel beast led American ships to crush Spain’s fleet at Manila Bay in just six hours, with zero U.S. deaths. The May 1, 1898 victory turned America into a world power overnight.

Today, she’s the oldest steel warship still afloat in the world, and this is her story.

The “New Navy” Program Created America’s Steel Fleet

The USS Olympia helped launch an entirely new naval era.

Built during the transition from wood and sail to steel and steam, Olympia showed how America was ready to compete with the world’s naval powers.

Before this “New Navy” program began in the 1880s, the U.S. fleet relied on outdated wooden ships that couldn’t match modern European navies.

In March 1883, Congress approved $1.3 million to build the first four steel warships—Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and Dolphin—nicknamed the “ABCD” ships.

Olympia took this advancement further.

Triple-Expansion Engines Powered The 344-Foot Warship

Olympia stretched 344 feet long, 53 feet wide, and weighed 5,870 tons with a maximum draft of 24 feet 10 inches. Her advanced steam engines could push her through water at almost 22 knots (25 mph).

The ship featured groundbreaking vertical triple-expansion marine engines, later named as historic engineering landmarks by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Though mainly steam-powered, the Navy didn’t fully trust this technology yet, so Olympia kept some sails for emergencies.

She also brought other modern features to the fleet, including electric priming for her main guns, an early refrigeration system, and electrical generators that powered lighting and ventilation throughout the ship.

Commodore Dewey Led Eight Ships Into Manila Bay

Olympia grabbed worldwide attention as Commodore George Dewey’s flagship during the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, a key fight in the Spanish-American War.

Dewey’s squadron included four protected cruisers—Olympia (his flagship), Boston, Raleigh, and Baltimore—plus two gunboats, an armed revenue cutter, and two supply steamers.

Before battle, sailors got haircuts to prevent loose hair from getting into wounds, and workers removed wooden panels that might create splinters during combat. The crew also turned Olympia’s wardroom into a makeshift hospital, ready to treat expected casualties.

Spanish Fleet Lost 371 Men While Americans Lost None

Dewey moved his squadron within 5,500 yards of the Spanish force around 5:40 a.m. on May 1, 1898, when he spoke his famous words to Captain Gridley: “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.”

The Spanish fleet was totally destroyed, losing 371 men while the American squadron had just 9 wounded and no deaths from enemy fire. American ships made several east-to-west passes along the Spanish line, firing their port guns and gradually moving closer to 2,000 yards.

Amazingly, Olympia recorded no casualties or wounded among her crew despite the intense fighting. Some crew members even volunteered beyond their normal duties, including Pay Inspector D.A. Smith, Fleet Pay Clerk William J. Rightmire, and Pay Clerk W.M. Long.

British Ships Couldn’t Match Olympia’s Superior Design

Many naval experts initially thought Olympia didn’t fit neatly into existing ship categories—some called her an under-armed battleship, others an over-armed cruiser that didn’t belong in the fleet.

When compared to similar British Eclipse-class cruisers, Olympia showed clear advantages with nearly twice the engine power, better armor, and stronger weapons on a frame only 200 short tons heavier.

While British ships carried more coal (550 short tons versus Olympia’s 400), her greater speed and firepower proved more valuable in actual combat.

As a “protected cruiser,” she had 5-inch deck armor that guarded important machinery below from shrapnel and plunging shells. Her Harvey Steel armor offered better protection while weighing less than older armor types.

Naval Academy Midshipmen Trained Aboard Olympia

After her Spanish-American War fame, Olympia moved into various peacetime roles. The Navy assigned her as a training ship at the U.S. Naval Academy, where she helped shape future naval officers from 1907-1909.

Throughout her career, Olympia cycled through active and inactive periods—she was decommissioned in November 1899, brought back to service in January 1902, deactivated again in April 1906, and reactivated in May 1907.

She also spent time “In Reserve” during 1909 and went into “In Ordinary” status (minimal maintenance with reduced crew) in 1914 before returning to full service in January 1915.

Modern 5-Inch Guns Replaced Outdated Weapons For War

The Navy recommissioned Olympia in 1916 as America’s entry into World War I looked increasingly likely.

She served as flagship of the Patrol Force Atlantic Fleet during the conflict. Workers updated her outdated weapons, removing the old 8-inch guns and turrets and installing more modern 5″/51-caliber guns in 1917.

During the war, her main job involved patrolling the U.S. eastern coast, watching for German warships and protecting transport ships in the North Atlantic. The ship ran aground in Long Island Sound on June 15, 1917, and needed repairs at Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Later, in 1920, Olympia watched General Billy Mitchell’s famous aerial bombing tests off Virginia, where biplanes sank former German warships Frankfurt and Ostfriesland.

American Sailors First Landed On Russian Soil In 1918

Olympia left Charleston, South Carolina on April 28, 1918, heading for Murmansk, Russia to join Allied forces fighting against Russian Bolsheviks.

She arrived on May 28, 1918, and made history as her crew became the first armed Americans to ever set foot on Russian soil.

Captain Bion B. Bierer commanded the ship with orders to reach Murmansk by way of Scotland.

At Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, they picked up important passengers including British Army Major General Frederick C. Poole, who would lead all Allied forces in North Russia.

Marines Captured 54 Bolsheviks Near Archangel Russia

During the Russian campaign, Olympia arrived at Murmansk on May 24, 1918.

A key moment came on June 8, when British Admiral Kemp ordered Olympia to send eight officers and 100 men ashore—about one-fourth of her entire crew.

The Navy landing force included two infantry companies, a machine gun section, and support staff who moved into former Royal Marine barracks.

After fixing up the Russian destroyer Kapitan Yourasovski, fifty Olympia sailors joined its crew.

By late July 1918, fifty men from Olympia’s 1st Infantry Company under Ensign Donald Hicks traveled to Archangel with a Russo-Allied Naval Brigade. On August 3, they attacked at Vologda and captured 54 Bolshevik prisoners.

Olympia’s crew also saw HMS Nairana, an early seaplane carrier, showing how air power was beginning to change warfare.

Congress Chose Olympia To Carry The Unknown Soldier

One of Olympia’s most important missions came in 1921, when she transported the World War I Unknown Soldier from France to Washington, D.C. for burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

The story began on February 4, 1921, when Congress approved burying an unidentified American soldier in the new Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington.

Captain H.L. Wyman commanded the ship during this mission, while Captain Graves B. Erskine led the Marine Detachment guarding the Unknown Soldier.

The selection process happened on October 24, 1921, in Châlons-sur-Marne, France, where Army Sergeant Edward F. Younger chose one body from four unidentified soldiers by placing roses on the casket.

Hurricane Nearly Capsized Ship With Unknown Soldier

Olympia’s journey with the Unknown Soldier turned into a life-threatening ordeal as the ship fought through massive waves from the remnants of two hurricanes.

The casket stayed on deck because it was too large to move below without disturbing the remains, leaving it exposed to brutal weather.

For 10 of the 15-day crossing, Olympia pushed through 20-30 foot seas.

One Marine reported the ship rolled 39 degrees at one point—just 10 degrees short of capsizing. Conditions got so dangerous on November 5-6 that Captain Wyman, fearing the worst, called for Navy Chaplain Lieutenant Edward A. Duff to pray for divine help.

Through it all, Marine guards stayed at their posts, with Captain Graves Blanchard Erskine later saying he would have jumped overboard with the Unknown Soldier if the casket had washed away.

Captain Louis R. de Steiguer Commanded Final Voyage

After completing the Unknown Soldier mission, Olympia made a last training cruise with midshipmen in summer 1922.

The Navy decommissioned her for good on December 9, 1922, in Philadelphia and placed her in reserve. On June 30, 1931, the ship got a new classification as IX-40 to preserve her as a historical relic.

Her service record shows multiple active periods: commissioned February 5, 1895; decommissioned November 8, 1899; recommissioned January 1902; decommissioned April 2, 1906; recommissioned May 15, 1907; with final decommissioning December 9, 1922 after nearly 27 years of service.

During her last active year, Olympia sailed Cuban waters, stopping at Guantánamo Bay on January 11, 1922, and operating in the Gulf of Guacanayabo from January 12 to February 3, 1922.

Captain Louis R. de Steiguer served as her last commanding officer, taking charge on December 27, 1921.

See Her in Person at the Independence Seaport Museum

On September 11, 1957, the Navy transferred her to the Cruiser Olympia Association, which restored her to look like she did in 1898. Workers added sheet metal replicas of her main eight-inch guns and turrets that had been removed before World War I.

When financial problems mounted, the Cruiser Olympia Society joined with the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia in January 1996.

Since 1976, she has been on display next to the submarine Becuna at Penn’s Landing on the Delaware River in Philadelphia.