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Date set for closing of USS Olympia

The Independence Seaport Museum has set Nov. 22 as the date it will close the Spanish-American War era battle cruiser Olympia to the public.

The cruiser Olympia , docked on Philadelphia's Delaware waterfront, began the destruction of the Spanish fleet in the Philippines in 1898. Now it's in dire need of restoration.
The cruiser Olympia , docked on Philadelphia's Delaware waterfront, began the destruction of the Spanish fleet in the Philippines in 1898. Now it's in dire need of restoration.Read moreLAURENCE KESTERSON/ Staff Photographer
    by Inquirer Staff Report
    Published 

The Independence Seaport Museum has set Nov. 22 as the date it will close the Spanish-American War era battle cruiser Olympia to the public.

What will happen to the national historic landmark after that remains uncertain.

The museum has notified the Navy it can no longer afford the upkeep of the 115-year-old warship and plans to relinquish stewardship of the vessel, which was donated a museum in 1957.

The museum hopes to find another owner who can pay up to $20 million to tow, restore, interpret, and endow the decaying vessel.

If a new benefactor is not found, it could be sunk to become an artificial reef off Cape May.

The ship has not been dry-docked since the end of World War II and small portions of the Olympia's half-inch steel hull along the water line have corroded to the point that only an eighth of an inch of thickness is left.

The museum took over the ship Jan. 1, 1996, from the Olympia Cruiser Association, which had maintained the vessel with limited resources for 40 years.