May 15, 2025
Docked on Penn’s Landing, adjacent to her sister ship, the Becuna, you will find the Olympia, a nineteenth-century cruiser and the oldest floating steel warship in the world. Believe it or not, she has called Philadelphia home since 1922, became a museum in 1957, and has been moored at this particular spot since 1976. The Independence Seaport Museum became the stewards of both ships in 1996.
While some people think the Olympia resembles the Titanic, she has a storied history all her own. Launched in San Francisco in 1892, the cruiser became famous in 1898 as the victorious flagship of Commodore (later Admiral) George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War (Upon returning home, Americans went wild for Dewey; think of him as the late nineteenth-century version of Taylor Swift!). During her 27 years of service, Olympia served as a training vessel for the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, provided humanitarian aid in the Adriatic, and escorted transport ships during World War I. With a service record such as this, it was only fitting for the ship to be selected (as her last act of service before being decommissioned, no less) as the vessel to bring home the American Unknown Soldier from World War I from Le Havre, France, to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
• She was one of the first ships with electricity, refrigeration, experimental radio, and SONAR.
• During her service, Olympia saw Utah, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona all become part of the United States.
• Olympia served under 6 presidential administrations.
• The medical world as we know it changed during those 27 years, with the invention of aspirin, insulin, and X-rays.
• The ship had animal mascots during most of her career. These mascots ranged from cats and dogs to goats, birds… and pigs!
• Olympia has visited many, many countries in her career. Some (but not all) included: the Philippines, China, Russia, Japan, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Haiti, England, France, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, Bosnia, Montenegro, Croatia, the Virgin Islands, and Spain.
• She was one of the first known ships to have an official ice cream stand, which was proposed by the crew in the 1890s!
After decommissioning, she was moved to the Philadelphia Navy Yard and has been in the city ever since, docked here for 100 of her 127 years of existence. Olympia has played a significant role in various Philadelphia commemorations and historical events. She was a participant in the groundbreaking ceremony for the 1922 Benjamin Franklin Bridge and played an important part in Philadelphia's 150th anniversary of the United States' founding in 1926 (This was the first time she was on temporary exhibition. Active sailors and Olympia veterans even gave tours to the public of the ship!).
For guests who want to visit the historic ship but might not be that adventurous, they are in luck! The museum is hosting two more pop-up events on Olympia during the summer. On Friday, July 18, and then again on Friday, August 15, climb aboard for a Speakeasy Night on Olympia. Step back in time to the 1920s (during peak prohibition time) to learn about what it would have been like for sailors and officers alike to serve in the United States Navy during that time. Attendees will enjoy themed cocktails and mocktails (first drink is on the museum!) and light bites while taking in the great views of the city on the decks of this historic ship.
Provided Courtesy/Independence Seaport Museum
Tickets are $35 per person. Click here to purchase tickets for July 18, and click here to purchase tickets for August 15. To learn more about other programs at the Independence Seaport Museum this summer, click here.
Whether you are a naval enthusiast or want to check visiting Olympia off your bucket list, there are many different ways to explore. Plan a visit today!
