USS Olympia: Herald of Empire

The USS Olympia is the oldest extant steel-hulled warship in the world. Constructed as part of a congressionally mandated program to build a modern fleet prior to the turn of the nineteenth century, she became famous as Admiral George Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay. Today she is part of a naval shrine at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia.

More than a ship's log recital of places and dates, this is a flesh-and-steel history of a pivotal warship that straddled the eras of commerce raiding and battle fleet confrontation in naval warfare. From her conceptual beginnings on drawing boards in Washington to the battle to protect her against age, scrapping, and the advent of big-gun battleships, this landmark study celebrates one of America's classic historic ships.

About the Author

Benjamin Franklin Cooling is the author of more than twenty books, including Benjamin Franklin Tracy: Father of the Modern American Fighting Navy, Gray Steel and Bluewater Navy, and Robley D. Evans: A Sailor's Log.