Scrap the USS Olympia?

We should save the USS Olympia. Just for the historic value of the ship.

It seems that some of our national military treasures are only "treasures" to that time period. The main issue for the Olympia was the Spanish-American war for Cuban Independence and what historical significance does that hold for rest of the US or what good does it do now?

The USS Constitution is America's oldest warship and now a museum. Need I say more about a ship that was around during the earliest beginnings of the US and one of the first capital ships authorized by the newly formed nation.

The USS Missouri (BB-63) will always be known as the ship which ushered in the close of WWII (probably one of the best documented old time battles) and shows the might and tenacity of the US military. Conversely, the USS Hornet (CVS-12) which is ported in Alameda, Ca. is only known for it's service during the Vietnam War and the recovery of the first American manned space mission Apollo 11, unlike it's predecessor CVA-8 (sunk during the Battle of Santa Cruz) which launched the first direct raid (the Doolittle Raid) against Japan in 1942 in retaliation for the Pearl Harbor attack.

The USS Texas (completed in 1914 and served in both WWI, WWII and was a part of D-Day operations) is the oldest surviving battleship still afloat.

Currently, there is momentum in getting the USS Ranger (CV-61) which starred in the movie Top Gun, to be a museum ship near Portland, Oregon. In its 36 year active duty history it supported operations in Vietnam, Desert Storm and is probably the only aircraft carrier that launched/recovered a U-2 spy plane. The USS Kitty Hawk (now sitting in Bremerton, Wash) was the oldest active duty ship next the USS Constitution after serving for 49 years.

I guess my point is what do any of these objects have in common to people not associated with them? Probably nothing and all they are is a money maker for the local economy and serve some historical value.

I have been watching with interest for several years now the plight of this ship. As the only remaining vessel of her era and a ship of actual historic significance there is a real case to be made for her preservation, unlike so many other warship museums. Her material condition however is very poor and the current owners can not afford to maintain the ship on a day-to-day basis, let alone the overhaul this ship desperately needs just to stay afloat. I would like to see ownership transfer to a museum that could afford to maintain USS Olympia properly but I don't see anyone tripping over each other to get into that line. Stimulus money is a no-go. I wouldn't be in favor of that at all. It is somewhat surprising no Pennsylvania legislator has earmarked funds to it. Representatives have built so many useless museums and local projects this way.

Objectively, the odds of this ships continued preservation are slim.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Olympia_(C-6)

http://www.phillyseaport.org/ships_olympia.shtml

I'm not familiar with the Olympia, so maybe my opinion would change if I knew more. But I don't see that we need to hold on to every symbol of American Greatness. Is there something about the Olympia that sets it apart from the rest? I like the idea of creating reefs out of the vessels. I think it is a much better ending than being sold to Japan to be made into razor blades or sunk as a target in a bombing exercise. I can think of nothing better than to dive on a reef made from one of these. As an aside, and no where near as significant, when I got new mortars and mortar tracks back in 95, we turned in our old tracks to be used for a reef project off Florida. I still have the Lat/Long for this reef and I hope some day to make that dive.

Maybe all those rich guys that want to give their money to a worthy cause can pony up. If I was Bill Gates Rich I would buy that ship, totally refurb it to as new condition and then live on it in the Admirals quarters. Maybe once a month take it out for a spin with tourists onboard.

if they could save the uss massachuettes,Spelled wrong) after the 2d world war, why not. maybe they feel it would be easer to scrap it the same why we did off vietnam by pushing all the planes and helicopers off to make room for thoses when south vietnam fell. the us has no problems with throwing our money away. if they have to scrap it us the steel here at home and don't ship it overseas or by from overseas sources. i'd rather see it sunk!

i now wat you say and i believe that, but we have plenty of good historical Shep's and is to expense to keep them, so better to use them fo artificial reef and give the names to remember them and fish

Sink her.

The country IS broke.

There is No money for toys.

She is no toy as you put it