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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 82657:  USS Columbia in 1898

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

USS Columbia (Cruiser # 12, later CA-16), 1894-1922.
Briefly named Old Columbia in 1921-1922

USS Columbia, a 7375-ton protected cruiser built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in April 1894. Her early service was in the Atlantic and Caribbean, with a voyage to Europe in mid-1895 for the ceremonies opening the Kiel Canal. She was laid up "in ordinary" at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in May 1897 but recommissioned in March 1898, as the threat of war with Spain increased. During the Spanish-American War that began in late April, Columbia operated along the U.S. East Coast and in the West Indies. She remained in that area after the war ended in August 1898 and was again laid up at the end of March 1899.

Columbia, whose very powerful engines made her expensive to operate, was only occasionally in commission during the Twentieth Century's first decade and a half. She was receiving ship at New York in 1902-03 and had active service with the Atlantic Training Squadron from November 1903 until May 1907. In June 1915, after eight years in reserve, Columbia recommissioned to become flagship of the Atlantic Fleet's submarines.

After U.S. entry into World War I in April 1917, Columbia initially patrolled off Delaware Bay and, in July, was assigned to convoy escort duty. She served in that role for the rest of the war, serving as an important part of the great floating "bridge" that conveyed America's army across the Atlantic to France. For some months in 1919 Columbia was a destroyer force flagship, She remained active in the Western Atlantic, Caribbean and along the Pacific Coast until late June 1921, when she was decommissioned for the last time. Columbia was reclassified CA-16 in July 1920, while still operational, and was renamed Old Columbia in November 1921, while laid up. The cruiser was sold for scrapping in January 1922.

This page features selected views related to USS Columbia (Cruiser # 12, later CA-8), with links to other images.


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 66297

USS Columbia
(Cruiser # 12)

Running trials in 1893, before she received her guns.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 540 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 55292

USS Columbia
(Cruiser # 12)

At anchor, during the 1890s.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 515 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 55289

USS Columbia
(Cruiser # 12)

In icy water off Norfolk, Virginia, January 1895.

Collection of Rear Admiral Ammen C. Farenholt, USN(MC), 1931.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 82657

USS Columbia
(Cruiser # 12)

Photograph taken in 1898 and reproduced on a stereograph card.

Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN(MSC), 1975

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 119KB; 635 x 675 pixels

A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 82657-A

Online Image of stereo pair: 66KB; 675 x 360 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 55286

USS Columbia
(Cruiser # 12)

Photographed in 1898, at the time of the Spanish-American War.

Courtesy of John S. Rowe.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 55287

USS Columbia
(Cruiser # 12)

Firing salutes off New York City, during the Spanish-American War victory naval review, August 1898.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 410 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 82658

USS Columbia
(Cruiser # 12)

Laid up during the early 1900s.
This photograph is printed on a stereograph card.

Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN(MSC), 1975

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 625 x 675 pixels

A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 82658-A

Online Image of stereo pair: 55KB; 675 x 365 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 55293

USS Columbia
(Cruiser # 12)

In Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, January 1920.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 75370

USS Columbia
(Cruiser # 12, later CA-16)

Off Balboa, Panama, with other ships of the fleet, after World War I.
Note the 13-star "boat" flag on the launch in the foreground, and 48-star flag flown by the ship.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 580 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 88497

USS Columbia
(Cruiser # 12, later CA-16)

Off San Diego, California, circa 1919-1921.

Donation of the International Aerospace Hall of Fame, San Diego, 1978.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 520 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 55284

USS Columbia
(Cruiser # 12)

Halftone reproduction of a photograph of the members of the ship's band during her 1904-1905 cruise.
Those present include (in order by rank, not as seen in the photo):
Bandmaster Fred Hupe, Conductor;
Bandmaster Bernard L. Reilly;
First Musician Roy D. Crider;
Musicians First Class Harry C. Arnold, Alonzo E. Buteau, Arnie B. Chandler, Joseph J. Quinn, William L. Waite, and William J. Young;
Musicians Second Class Nathaniel Fichtelberg, Calvin W. Hake, Avery J. Hilton, James G. Robinson, Harry J. Smith, James G. Willson and John D. Winters.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 137KB; 740 x 545 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 2243

Burgess-Dunne AH-7 seaplane


Flying just over the water off Pensacola, Florida, in March 1916.
USS Columbia (Cruiser # 12) is anchored in the right background.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 585 pixels

 

Note: In addition to the views presented above, USS Columbia is seen in the following images, often in the background of views of other ships:

  • Photo # NH 78627-KN: Painting "Before the War" by Carlton T. Chapman, depicting ships in Hampton Roads, Virginia, circa March-April 1898;
  • Photo # NH 53257: Photograph of USS Iowa (Battleship # 4) in 1897 or early 1898;
  • Photo # NH 46172: Photograph of USS Minneapolis (Cruiser # 13), taken circa August 1898.
  • Photo # NH 86082-C: Right third of a panoramic photograph of "Combined Atlantic and Pacific Fleets in Panama Bay, Jan. 21st 1921". USS Columbia is in the distance, at right.
  • Photo # NH 100762: Photograph of USS Old Columbia (ex-Columbia) and other ships awaiting scrapping in 1922, probably at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


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


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    Page originally made 24 September 1998
    Extensively revised and expanded 28 September 2002
    New image added 31 August 2003