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

Photo # NH 61941:  USS Boston departing New York Harbor for Europe, circa December 1889

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

USS Boston (1887-1946),
later renamed Despatch (IX-2)

USS Boston, a 3189-ton Atlanta class protected cruiser, was built at Chester, Pennsylvania, and commissioned in May 1887. One of the first ships of the "New Navy", she operated actively in the Atlantic until 1891. For much of that time she was a member of the Squadron of Evolution, and cruised with that unit to the Mediterranean Sea and South America between early December 1889 and late July 1890. In 1891 Boston went around Cape Horn to the Pacific, where she spent the rest of her career. During much of 1892 and 1893 she was stationed in Hawaii and in November 1893 was laid up at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California.

Recommissioned in November 1895, Boston crossed the Pacific to take station in Asiatic waters. During the Spanish-American War in 1898, she participated in the Battle of Manila Bay and in subsequent operations in the Philippines. After her return to the U.S. in August 1899 the cruiser was laid up at Mare Island. She returned to active duty in August 1902 for operation with the Pacific Squadron. In June 1905 she represented the Navy at the Lewis and Clark Exposition at Portland, Oregon, and in April and May 1906 assisted with earthquake recovery efforts at San Francisco, California.

Boston's seagoing Navy career ended in June 1907. Inactive at the Puget Sound Navy Yard until June 1911, she then began a tour as Oregon Naval Militia training ship, remaining in that position until September 1916. During much of the First World War the ship was on loan to the United States Shipping Board, but in 1918 Boston was converted for use as the receiving ship at the Yerba Buena Naval Training Station in San Francisco Bay. More than two decades later, in August 1940, she was renamed Despatch, thus freeing her original name for use on the new heavy cruiser CA-69. She was given the hull number IX-2 in February 1941 and remained at Yerba Buena through the Second World War. Following almost sixty years' service, the old ship was sunk as a target off San Francisco in April 1946.

This page features selected views of USS Boston (1887-1946), and provides links to other images related to her.

For more views of, and related to, USS Boston, see:

  • USS Boston (1887-1946) -- Actions and Activities;
  • USS Boston (1887-1946) -- Miscellaneous On Board Views; and
  • USS Boston (1887-1946), later USS Despatch (IX-2) -- As a Receiving Ship, 1918-1946.


    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 56524

    USS Boston
    (1887-1946)

    Steams at full speed, 15.58 knots, over the measured mile at Newport, Rhode Island, circa 1887.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 56526

    USS Boston
    (1887-1946)

    In drydock at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, 1888.
    Note fancy scrollwork on her bow bulwark, and reinforcing strip on the side of her ram bow.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 152KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69173

    USS Boston
    (1887-1946), left
    and
    USS Atlanta (1886-1912)

    Tied up together, probably at the New York Navy Yard, circa the late 1880s or early 1890s.
    Note that their yards have been cocked to avoid striking each other.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 121KB; 595 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 61941

    USS Boston
    (1887-1946)

    Departing New York Harbor for a European deployment, circa December 1889. The Statue of Liberty is in the background, between Boston's two smokestacks.
    Photographed by E.H. Hart.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 100286

    USS Boston
    (1887-1946)

    Photographed circa 1890. The original photograph was printed on a stereograph card, published by Strohmeyer and Wyman, 1898.

    Donation of Louis Smaus, 1985

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 109KB; 625 x 675 pixels

    A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 100286-A

    Online Image of stereo pair: 71KB; 675 x 350 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 63249

    USS Boston
    (1887-1946)

    In New York Harbor, circa 1891.
    Photographed by J.S. Johnston, New York.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 105556

    USS Boston
    (1887-1946)

    Underway, probably off Boston, Massachusetts, 1891.
    Photographed by H.C. Peabody, Boston.

    Collection of Warren Beltramini, donated by Beryl Beltramini, 2007.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image size: 104KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: KN-4782 (Color)

    USS Boston (1887-1946)

    Painting by Rod Claudius, Rome, Italy, 1962.
    This artwork was made for display on board USS Boston (CAG-1).
    Photographed by PHCS G.R. Phelps, Boston Naval Shipyard, 10 April 1963.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 495 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 61699

    USS Boston
    (1887-1946)

    Underway, circa the early 1900s, after her sailing rig had been removed and other modifications made.
    Note the new-type gun shield fitted to her forward eight-inch gun.

    Donation of Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt, USN(MC), 1935.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 625 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 102753

    USS Boston
    (1887-1946)

    Photographed in 1904, while serving with the Pacific Squadron.
    USS New York (Armored Cruiser # 2), the squadron's flagship, is in the right background.

    Donation of John C. Reilly, Jr., 1977.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 455 pixels

     

    For more views of, and related to, USS Boston, see:

  • USS Boston (1887-1946) -- Actions and Activities;
  • USS Boston (1887-1946) -- Miscellaneous On Board Views; and
  • USS Boston (1887-1946), later USS Despatch (IX-2) -- As a Receiving Ship, 1918-1946.


    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 originally made 24 September 1998
    Extensively revised and expanded 1 February 2003
    New image added 16 April 2008