USS Olympia Under Attack by the Economy-- Part 1

From the November 13, 2010, Suite 101 by Christopher Eger.

This is definitely a ship that should be saved, firstly, because it is the only surviving warship from the Spanish-American War, but also because it was where Admiral Dewey issued orders for Gridley to fire when ready at the Battle of Santiago Bay.

Dewey's flagship was set to close to the public, after 62 years of service in the Navy and the rest as a museum, November 22, 2010.

It cost $1,796,000 to build the Olympia in 1895, the Navy's most-modern warship.  It mounted four 8-inch guns, ten 5-inch and smaller six- and one-pounders and even machine guns, manned by 33 officers and 378 enlisted men.  It was an engineering marvel, one of the first ships with electricity and power-steering gear.

Save the Old Ship.  --Cooter