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Photo # NH 58662:  USS Vandalia at the New York Navy Yard

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

USS Vandalia (1876-1889)

USS Vandalia, a 2033-ton Swatara class screw sloop, was built at the Boston Navy Yard, Charlestown, Massachusetts. Commissioned in January 1876, she served with the European Squadron until late in 1878. From December 1877 until March 1878, she transported former President Ulysses S. Grant on a tour of the Mediterranean Sea and its historic ports. Vandalia was assigned to the North Atlantic Squadron from 1879 until 1884, operating from the Grand Banks fishing grounds to the Caribbean. She decommissioned for overhaul in October 1884.

Vandalia recommissioned in February 1886, and in August of that year left the east coast for the long voyage around South America to join the Pacific Station. She served as the Navy's Pacific flagship during much of the next two years. In early 1889, Vandalia was sent to Samoa to help counter German political and military activities in that island kingdom. While anchored in Apia Harbor, Samoa, on 15-16 March 1889, Vandalia was driven ashore by a violent hurricane. The ship was utterly wrecked, and suffered the loss of 43 of her officers and men, including her Commanding Officer, Captain Cornelius M. Schoonmaker. After recovery of fittings and armament, her wreck was donated to the Samoans for its salvage value and broken up.

This page features and provides links to all the views we have related to USS Vandalia (1876-1889).

For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Vandalia -- In the Apia Hurricane of March 1889; and
  • USS Vandalia -- Views on Board.


    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 63408

    USS Vandalia
    (1876-1889)

    At the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, probably at the completion of her construction in early 1876.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 58662

    USS Vandalia
    (1876-1889)

    At the New York Navy Yard, circa the later 1870s or the early 1880s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 55843

    USS Vandalia
    (1876-1889)

    At the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, circa March 1886.
    Photographed by L.V. Newell, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
    One original print of this view is marked: "Sailed from Portsmouth Navy Yard, 25 March 1886".

    Courtesy of N.F. Toczko, 1972.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 44796

    USS Vandalia (1876-1889)


    At the New York Navy Yard in the summer of 1886, while preparing for service on the Pacific Station.
    The receiving ship Vermont is in the right distance.
    Photographed by E.H. Hart, 1162 Broadway, New York City.
    The original print is a letterpress reproduction, published circa 1886.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 545 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 44797

    USS Vandalia (1876-1889)


    Photographed circa 1886-1887, while serving as flagship of the Pacific Station.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42299

    USS Vandalia (1876-1889)


    Oil painting by A. Jacobsen, 1885.

    Donated by F.H. Davis, 1963.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 500 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42295

    USS Vandalia (1876-1889)


    Firing salutes off the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, circa the 1880s.
    Possibly photographed in March 1886, when Vandalia left Portsmouth after overhaul.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 625 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 44794

    USS Vandalia (1876-1889)


    Fitting out in drydock at the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, circa early 1876.
    Behind her, at right, is USS Adams, also fitting out.
    In the distance is the Navy Yard's receiving ship, USS Ohio.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 129KB; 740 x 555 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 44795

    USS Vandalia (1876-1889)


    Fitting out in drydock at the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, circa early 1876.
    Behind her, at right, is USS Adams, also fitting out.
    In the distance is the Navy Yard's receiving ship, USS Ohio.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 116KB; 545 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42469

    USS Vandalia (1876-1889)


    Completing her outfitting, in drydock at the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, circa early 1876.
    Behind her, at right, is USS Adams, also fitting out.
    In the distance is the Navy Yard's receiving ship, USS Ohio.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 87KB; 515 x 765 pixels

     

    For more images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Vandalia -- In the Apia Hurricane of March 1889; and
  • USS Vandalia -- Views on Board.


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


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 27 March 2002