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Photo # NH 100334:  USS Wisconsin dressed with flags in San Francisco Bay, California, 1901

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

USS Wisconsin (Battleship # 9, later BB-9), 1901-1922

USS Wisconsin, a 11,565-ton Illinois class battleship built at San Francisco, California, was commissioned in February 1901. She mainly operated along the western coasts of North and Central America during the next two years, often serving as flagship of the Pacific Squadron. She also cruised to the South Pacific in late 1901 and to Chile early in 1902. Between June 1903 and September 1906 Wisconsin was stationed in the Far East as Asiatic Fleet flagship. She was out of commission at the Puget Sound Navy Yard from November 1906 until April 1908, and in July 1908 joined the "Great White Fleet" battleships that were then preparing for the trans-Pacific stage of their cruise around the World. Participating in the remainder of this epic voyage, Wisconsin visited New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Japan, China, Ceylon, then crossed the Indian Ocean, transited the Suez Canal, and passed through the Mediterranean and across the Atlantic before steaming into Hampton Roads, Virginia, in February 1909.

Over the next few months, Wisconsin underwent modernization work that greatly changed her appearance. Emerging from the shipyard with a new "basket" foremast, grey paint and many other alterations, she operated along the U.S. East Coast and in the Caribbean from mid-1909 to the spring of 1910, then went into reserve. Fitted with a second "basket" mast, she emerged briefly from reserve in 1912, and in 1915 joined the Naval Academy Training Squadron. In the middle of that year, the battleship passed through the Panama Canal on a Midshipmen's training cruise, thus returning to the Pacific for the first time in nearly seven years.

However, Wisconsin's remaining career was primarily spent in the Atlantic. Her Naval Academy tour ended when the United States entered World War I in April 1917. During that conflict she was employed to train the huge numbers of new Sailors needed to man the greatly enlarged wartime Navy. Wisconsin generally operated in the Chesapeake Bay for this purpose, but made occasional trips along the East Coast. With the War at an end, in early 1919 she participated in Atlantic Fleet exercises off Cuba and, in mid-year, carried Naval Academy midshipmen on a Caribbean cruise. Decommissioned in May 1920, a few weeks later Wisconsin was given the hull number BB-9, but had no further active service. She was sold for scrapping in January 1922.

This page features selected views related to USS Wisconsin (Battleship # 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 100334

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

In San Francisco Bay, California, dressed with flags and with her crew manning the rail in honor of the Presidential party, 1901.
Photo printed on a stereograph card, copyrighted in 1901 by Underwood & Underwood.
Note the California State flag flying from the launch in the foreground.

Donation of Louis Smaus, 1985

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 105KB; 635 x 675 pixels

A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 100334-A

Online Image of stereo pair: 75KB; 675 x 355 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 75109-A

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

Off San Francisco, California, in 1901.

Courtesy of the South Dakota State Historical Society, donation of Glenn H. Smith.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 580 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-3-1-14

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa 1901.

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

Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 465 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 61955

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

At anchor, circa 1901-1908.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 63140

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

Underway, circa 1909-1910, after being refitted with a "cage" foremast.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 82127

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

Underway, circa 1912.
Photographed by John W. Dawson, Marine Photographer, 2209 Richmond Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Collection of Lieutenant Commander Abraham DeSomer, donated by Myles DeSomer, 1975.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 465 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 44263

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

Anchored off New York City, 12 October 1912, during the Naval Review.
A battleship of the Kearsarge class is visible in the left distance.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 580 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 85883

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

Photographed circa 1918 by O.W. Waterman of Hampton, Virginia.

Donation of Gordon C. McFadden, 1977.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 77182

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

Under refit at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, circa April-May 1909. She was then in the process of having her "military" foremast replaced with one of the "basket" type.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1973.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 475 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-3-1-22

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

At the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, on 29 June 1909, after being fitted with a "basket" foremast.

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

Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 89082

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

Crewmen posed around the ship's forward 13"/35 twin gun turret, 1901.
Photograph published on a stereograph card by C.H. Graves, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, circa 1904 or later.
See Photo # NH 89082 (extended caption) for text printed on the reverse of the original card.

Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN(MSC), 1979

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 126KB; 595 x 675 pixels

A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 89082-A

Online Image of stereo pair: 93KB; 675 x 360 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 81446

USS Wisconsin
(Battleship # 9)

"King Neptune" and his "Queen" on board the ship for Equator crossing ceremonies held on board during the "Great White Fleet" World cruise, 1908.

Courtesy of Mrs. Worth Sprunt, 1974, from the Collection of Rear Admiral B.F. Hutchison, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 95KB; 465 x 765 pixels

 

Additional view: Photo # NH 100762 shows USS Wisconsin 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 made 19 November 2002