We Welcome Your Letters! Write to the editor at editorial@seahistory.org or by mail to: Editor, Sea History, 7 Timberknoll Rd., Pocasset, MA 02559. Philippines from Spanish yoke, bur she led the first expedition to confront Bolshevism in North Russia at the close ofWorld War I. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964, a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1977, a N arional Historic Maritime Landmark in 1988, and an Official Project to Save America's Treasures in 1999-does anyone care now that we are in the rwenry-first century? And if they don't, does that mean we aim to please only those who are too ignorant or callous or arrogant to value our own history? What can we do about this atrociry beckoning on the horizon? First, contact Peter McCausland, chair of the Board of Port Wardens, Independence Seaport Museum , 211 South Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19106, and protest the sacrilege about to be perpetrated upon the Olympia. Second, write Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter about the loss of this historic landmarkand tourist attraction to his ciry. Third, inform local Philadelphia congressmen Bob Brady and Joe Sesrak in the US Congress or even your local congressional representatives of the impending travesry seeking national succor for saving the Olympia. And, fourth, there is a group that has organized to raise awareness and funds to save the ship: Friends of the Cruiser Olympia is asking for your help and contributions (contact them at Info@CruiserOlympia.org). They are trying to raise $2.5 million-yes, $2.5 million by the end of the year. Unrealistic, you say? Nor when you think that pennies contributed by Philadelphia school children helped save the ship some sixry years ago! We have to start somewhere, and all of us chipping in will help reach the goal. Help Save the Olympia-IF YOU CARE. And, we all should! B. FRANKLIN COOLING Author, Olympia; Herald ofEmpire (Naval Institute Press, 2000)
vessel on 22 November 2010 and begin to "responsibly dispose" of the vessel. Unless supporters can raise $2.5 million by January 2011, this irreplaceable piece of American history may be sent to an ignominious reefing, ending its days protecting the New Jersey beach front. Launched from the Union Boat Works in San Francisco in 1892, USS Olympia remains one of the last three surviving examples oflate 19th-century warship construction in the world. A National Historic Landmark and technological marvel, the ship's vertical reciprocating steam engines earned her a spot on the list of National Historic Mechanical
In Philadelphia, the Independence Seaport Museum, longtime steward of the protected cruiser Olympia (C-6) , is recovering from years of systemic mismanagement and corruption. Bur the operational reforms may have come too late for the Olympia-the museum has decided to shutter the museum
Essex Schooner Evelina M. Goulart I was pleased to read the article on the future of the Evelina M. Goulart in the recent issue of Sea History. The article did a good job of capturing the issues facing the Essex Shipbuilding Museum as they work through their decision-making process regarding the
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Engineering Landmarks. The ship itself is a significant historical showpiece. After serving as Commodore George Dewey's flagship during the 1898 Bartle of Manila Bay, the Olympia memorialized America's emergence as a global power. As a floating memorial, the Olympia was a successful museum vessel. On an annual basis, more than 100,000 visitors paced the same decks where Navy hero Commodore George Dewey uttered the immortal fighting words, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley." Ir is shameful that the Olympia could survive a confrontation with a hostile fleet only to be sunk by years of bad management, lax accounting, and cavalier stewardship. In the meantime, you can visit this museum ship while it is still open to visitors. This may be your last chance. Go to http:// cruiserolympia.org/sire/ and learn what you can do to help save this American treasure. CRAIG HOOPER
San Francisco, California
future of the vessel. I was fortunate to have been asked to speak at the last of the foursession symposia the Essex Shipbuilding Museum organized to explore the best options for the Goulart's future. As the article noted, whatever route the museum takes, including doing nothing, will involve expenses that will be difficult for it to cover. At the last session, Erik Ronn berg eloquently discussed "Chainsaw Archaeology," which is a responsible option at this stage as it would insure that critical aspects of the vessel will be documented and saved. Pieces of the schooner can be preserved and exhibited inside the museum's building, and with the inclusion of a large-scale model in the display, an exhibit like this can be a powerful reminder of Essex's past shipbuilding glory. That said, I believe the Goulart is of a size that keeping her intact is also a viable option for the museum to consider. She is the only largely original Essex-built vessel in existence today, something that should give ample weight to the discussion of why she is worth saving. The Essex Shipbuilding Museum is facing a very difficult and important decision: it sits on one of the key sites involved in the history ofshipbuilding in the region and has in its care one of the last examples of that shipbuilding past. Furthermore, the Goulart is a National Historic Landmark, the highest designation awarded a historic structure or site in this country. Imagine for a moment how this conversation would be shaped if there were only a half dozen buildings on CapeAnn that predated 1930. The museum and the Goulart are central to preserving the history of the region, and any actions taken must come from careful consideration of these facts . From what I could see, there is a core group of individuals that can be marshaled to explore the difficult decisions the museum needs to make and to develop a plan to responsibly deal with the vessel. As the museum's board moves through this process, they will need support from the maritime preservation communiry and they deserve support from the preservation communiry at large. DANA
c. HEWSON
Senior Curator for Watercraft, VP for Watercraft Preservation & Programs Mystic Seaport SEA HISTORY 132, AUTUMN 2010