U.S.S. OREGON

The Oregon is the ship that reawakened the argument that a passage through the Panamanian isthmus was needed. With it's internationally followed race around South America. Initiated by the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana harbor in February of 1898.

The Journey.....

The newest of Americas' dreadnoughts set the "sea and anchor detail" and got underway on March 18, from San Francisco. Newly embarked onboard was the tenacious, Captain Charles E. Clark.

In anticipation of an engagement with a Spanish fleet, Clark made sure that training routines were a regular affair during the journey. The frequent stops for coal and supplies probably kept the crew in good physical shape as these evolutions had to be completed in the quickest time possible to get the ship underway again. The logistics of these replenishments was another amazing facet to this mission as word had to be sent down the coast of South America to the next coal stop. Hopefully the requested provisions and coal would be ready for loading upon arrival.

Meanwhile the headlines of the nations newspapers announced the progress of the Oregon's transit on a daily basis. By the time she reported "ready for battle" off of Jupiter inlet Florida on the 24th of May, she had made the 14,000 mile journey in record time. She was able to participate in the destruction of Admiral Cervera's fleet and the shelling of shore installations with her thirteen inch guns in the battle of Santiago Harbor.

Even though a record run, it still took two months to reach the east coast. This fact finally quieted the opposition for the construction of a canal. President McKinley authorized a commission to investigate the best place for the canal. Later under Roosevelt much controversy surrounded the placement of the canal and the creation of the country of Panama. Finally the first Americans to survey the area for construction arrived in 1904. After much hardship brought on by poor working and living conditions and the constant plight of yellow fever the project was completed in 1914.

The Monument....

After the war the Oregon spent most of the remainder of her active career patrolling Asiatic waters. By the time she was loaned to the state of Oregon in June of 1925 she had been decommissioned three times and placed in reserve status twice.

Moored in Portland as a floating museum, she served as host for thousands on field trips by the local schools and outings for scout troops. She marveled both the young and old alike as they toured the gun turrets, bridge and the crew berthing areas, where they could get the feeling of what it must've been like to serve aboard her.

Once again called to service.....

All of this came to an end at the start of the Second World War. Her scrap value was too great for the government to ignore. Against the cries of local citizens she was towed to Kalama Wash. in March of 1943 for dismantling. Once everything topside had been removed the hull was again used by the Navy. This time as an ammo barge for the retaking of Guam.

Some years later during a storm she broke free of her moorings for one last independent voyage. About a month later a plane spotted her drifting 500 miles south of Guam. She was then towed back to Guam. Later in 1956 she was sold to a Japanese company and scrapped.

Her mainmast can be seen at Battleship Park on the waterfront of the Willamette River in downtown Portland Oregon.