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From: graper@BRL.MIL (MTSD/FIO)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: philadelphia naval museums
Message-ID: <1990Dec19.010431.25287@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 19 Dec 90 01:04:31 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
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From:     Graper Brad P (MTSD/FIO) <graper@BRL.MIL>
There is a Spanish-American War vintage cruiser, the Olympia, I believe docked
in Philly as a permanent visitor attraction.  I saw it a few years ago.
Very interesting, especially for those who have only been on WWII era floating
museums.  The huge triple-expansion steam engines are interesting.  
I recommend it; there's not too many ships available to look at from
the "age of iron", and they are significantly different from both what came before and what came after.  There's also a submarine nearby, I think.  

I also have been on a tour of the Phiuladelphia Navy yard, about four years ago.
They used to have tours every Saturday, at 9:00 and 11:00, I think.
Not sure if they stiklll do.
You could take your camera along, but could only rake pictures in certain places
in the yard.  The bus went by the 6-9 mothballed destroyers they had there, the
two Salem class cruisers in mothballs, and some smaller stuff.  It went into
the actual navy yard, but you couldn't take pictures.  When i was there they 
still had a BB.  I believe it was the Wisconsin, just before it left for its
refit.  They usually have a carrier there, udergoing a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) refit -- the SLEP refit at that time took 30 months to complete.
They would also usually have a helicopter carrier in at the same time.  
Don't know what's there now.  
-bpg