The Spanish-American War is often considered to mark the beginning of the ascent of the United States as a world power. Yet, that war is little remembered today, and now one of the few artifacts that remains from that period is in danger of being lost too.
The Protected Cruiser Olympia served as Admiral Dewey's flagship during the battle of Manila Bay, and in 1921 brought the body of the "unknown soldier" back from France, but efforts to preserve her have been marred by a lack of money, mismanagement and even fraud over the years. See http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0907/USS-Olympia-one-of-a-kind-steel-cruiser-battles-for-survival and http://www.phillyseaport.org/ships_olympia.shtml
A bill has been introduced in Congress to provide for the striking of commemorative coins to help fund a refurbishment, but it is unclear whether the bill will pass or the ship will survive economic realities.
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