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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 2232:  USS Niagara at anchor, circa 1920

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Niagara (SP-136, later PY-9), 1918-1933.
Originally Steam Yacht Niagara (1898)

Niagara, a 1443 gross ton steam yacht, was built in 1898 at Wilmington, Delaware, by the firm of Harlan and Hollingsworth. Purchased by the Navy in August 1917 from Howard Gould of New York City, she was converted to a patrol vessel and placed in commission in mid-April 1918 as USS Niagara (SP-136). Beginning a month later she was employed to escort convoys between the United States, Bermuda and the Azores. In September 1918 Niagara went to the West Indies, where she escorted a cable ship between several ports. She returned to the U.S. in December, some weeks after the Armistice had ended the First World War's fighting.

Following repairs, in mid-1919 Niagara was used for training in the Long Island Sound area. She steamed south again in September to operate in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, where she remained into 1922. When the Navy implemented its hull number system in July 1920, Niagara was designated PY-9. Out of commission between April 1922 and June 1924, the former yacht was next assigned to surveying duties in the Caribbean region. These tasks continued until October 1930. USS Niagara was decommissioned in early March 1931, stricken from the list of Navy ships in December of that year, and sold for scrapping in September 1933.

This page features all the views we have concerning the steam yacht Niagara of 1898 and USS Niagara (SP-136, later PY-9).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 102908

Niagara
(American Steam Yacht, 1898)

Photograph taken prior to her World War I Navy service. It is printed on a postal card.
This yacht was acquired by the Navy on 10 August 1917 from Howard Gould of New York City, and placed in commission on 16 April 1918 as USS Niagara (SP-136). Redesignated PY-9 in July 1920, she was decommissioned on 3 March 1931 and sold for scrapping on 13 September 1933.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 38KB; 740 x 490 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 2232

USS Niagara
(PY-9)

At anchor, circa 1920, probably in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Note her eagle figurehead.

Collection of Gustave Maurer, ex-Chief Photographer, 1921.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 44823

USS Niagara
(PY-9)

In Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa 1920.
Two battleships are in the background.

Collection of Gustave Maurer, ex-Chief Photographer, 1921.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 555 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 1094

USS Niagara
(PY-9)

At anchor, probably while assigned to surveying duty during the 1920s.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 102937

USS Niagara
(PY-9)

In port, during the early 1920s.

Collection of Captain Frederick R. Naile, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 465 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 68340

USS Niagara
(PY-9)

In a Caribbean-area port while on surveying duty, circa the 1920s.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 470 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 46458

USS Niagara
(PY-9)

At the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa 1931-1933, while being stripped for sale.

Courtesy of the Philadelphia "Inquirer", 1936.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 46460

USS Niagara
(PY-9)

Sailor working on the ship's eagle figurehead, while she was being stripped for sale at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa 1931-1933.

Courtesy of the Philadelphia "Inquirer", 1936.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 


The following photographs may have been taken on board USS Niagara:

Photo #: NH 46461

Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania


Sailor uses a pneumatic chipping tool to remove paint from a small gun pedestal, on board a ship at the Navy Yard during the early 1930s.
The ship may be USS Niagara (PY-9).

Courtesy of the Philadelphia "Inquirer", 1936.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 46459

Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania


Section of structure, including bathroom facilities, removed from a ship being scrapped at the Navy Yard during the early 1930s.
The ship may be USS Niagara (PY-9).

Courtesy of the Philadelphia "Inquirer", 1936.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 


In addition to the views reference above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other photograph of the steam yacht Niagara of 1898. The following listing describes this image:

The image listed below is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • Photo #: 80-G-1025904
    Steam yacht Niagara dressed with flags, while at anchor prior to World War I.
    Starboard bow surface view. The ship is rigged as a barque.
    Note: The original photo is labeled as USS Niagara (PY-9), but was actually taken prior to the ship's U.S. Navy service.


    Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The image listed above is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 29 April 2005