From the Dec. 28, 2010, Suite 101 by Christopher Eger.
Since 1957, the historic Spanish-American warship (the only one left) has been at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, but the Navy Yard Association of Mare Island (by SF) has kicked off a Save the Olympia campaign and to bring it back to its former home port in San Francisco.
The group is now raising funds for a feasibility study to determine possible sites in San Francisco. One is the National Maritime Museum which operates the submarine USS Pampanito SS-383 at Pier 45, the former Hunters Point Navy Yard.
There is also Mare Island's historic dry dock and the San Francisco Maritime Park.
The Olympia was built in San Francisco by the Union Ironworks in 1888 for $1,796,000 and commissioned in 1895. For many years, it was the largest and best equipped warship in the Pacific. It fought in the Spanish-American War and after World War I transferred the body of The Unknown Soldier from France back to the U.S..
Due to lack of money for preservation, the Olympia was scheduled to close in November, but that has been extended to at least April 2011. As far as I know, it is still open.
Regardless of Where It Ends Up, Save the Ship. --Cooter
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