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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

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

USS Monongahela (1863-1908)

USS Monongahela, a 2078-ton steam screw sloop built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, was commissioned in January 1863. Her first service was on the lower Mississippi River, where she was heavily engaged at Port Hudson and elsewhere. From mid-1863 to the end of the Civil War, Monongahela participated in the Gulf of Mexico blockade. On 5 August 1864, she played an active role in the Battle of Mobile Bay, ramming the Confederate ironclad Tennessee.

Following the War, Monongahela was assigned to the West Indies. On 18 November 1867, she was cast ashore at St. Croix, Virgin Islands, by a tidal wave and was only refloated six months later. In 1873, after extensive repairs, she began six years' service in the Pacific, the western Atlantic and in Asiatic waters. Monongahela was converted to a sailing storeship in 1883-84, with her engines removed to increase storage space. From then until 1890, she served as supply vessel at Callao, Peru.

Monongahela's next role was as a ship-rigged sail training ship for apprentice seamen and, from 1894 to 1899, for the U.S. Naval Academy's midshipmen. Her training duties ended in 1904, when she became storeship at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Monongahela was destroyed by fire there on 17 March 1908.

This page features overall views of USS Monongahela throughout her long career.

For views taken on board the ship, see USS Monongahela On Board and Closeup Views

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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

Photo #: NH 45205

USS Monongahela (1862-1908)


Artwork showing her as originally built, with three pivot guns and no bowsprit. This was her configuration until 1865.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 515 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 45208

USS Monongahela (1863-1908)


Stranded at Frederikstad, St. Croix, Virgin Islands on 4 March 1868 after an unsuccessful launching attempt. She had been washed ashore by a tidal wave on 18 November 1867 and was finally refloated on 11 May 1868.
Monongahela had received a bowsprit in her 1865 refit, but retains her original straight bow.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 61KB; 430 x 765 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 45209

USS Monongahela (1863-1908)


Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in July 1884, following conversion to a sailing storeship.
USS Mohican (1885-1922) is fitting out in the left background, with Mare Island's distinctive large crane beyond.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 59KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 60266

USS Monongahela (1863-1908)


Photographed in port, following her 1890-91 conversion to a ship-rigged training ship.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 545 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 43576-KN (Color)

USS Monongahela (1863-1908)


Mural by Howard B. French, in Memorial Hall, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, depicting Monongahela during her days at the Naval Academy Practice Ship, 1894-99.

The mural was donated to the Naval Academy by Mrs. Louis M. Nulton.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 55KB; 740 x 430 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 89732 (Color)

USS Monongahela (1863-1908)


Under sail, with starboard studding sails spread in a very light wind, while serving as U.S. Naval Academy Practice Ship in 1894-99.

Courtesy of Edward Page, 1979.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 635 pixels

 

Photo #: NH 45993

USS Monongahela (1863-1908)


Under full sail in a very light breeze, while serving as U.S. Naval Academy Practice Ship in 1894-99.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 

Photo #: 19-N-12118 (Color)

USS Monongahela (1863-1908)


Under sail during the later 1890s, while serving as the U.S. Naval Academy Practice Ship.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 146 pixels

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

 

For views taken on board the ship, see USS Monongahela On Board and Closeup Views

Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

13 November 1998