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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images
Ships of the Spanish-American War--
U.S. NAVY SHIPS -- Other Auxiliary Cruisers

Eight medium-sized ships, and one smaller one, were purchased for conversion to auxiliary cruisers during the Spanish-American War. USS Dixie, Prairie, Yankee, Yosemite and Buffalo were 7500 ton ships of very similar design. Badger, Panther and Resolute were of 4000 to 5000 tons. The former pilot boat Peoria was the smallest of the lot and later became a tug.

Except for Buffalo, all these ships were very active off Cuba and elsewhere in the Carribbean, serving as cruisers and as transports. The Navy retained most of them well into the next century, using the larger ones as training ships, transports and destroyer tenders. Dixie, Prairie, Panther and Peoria remained in service until the early 1920s.

This page features views of most of these nine ships.

If higher resolution reproductions than these digital images are desired, see "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

In all cases, clicking on the small photograph will prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 67435

USS Dixie (1898-1922)

Photographed during the Spanish-American War, 1898.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 32,388 bytes; 740 x 540 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 67455

USS Dixie (1898-1922)

Crewmen cleaning a 6-inch gun, during the Spanish-American War, 1898. View looks aft from near the bow, on the port side.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 62,678 bytes; 590 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 67447

USS Dixie (1898-1922)

Crewmen swabbing the forward spar deck, during the Spanish- American War, 1898. Ensign Peter T. Coyle is on the bridge, overlooking the scene. Note ship's bell at right.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 73,982 bytes; 590 x 630 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 44056

USS Prairie (1898-1922)

Photographed at the New York Navy Yard soon after commissioning in April 1898.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 57,742 bytes; 590 x 705 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43666

USS Yankee (1898-1908)

Photographed at the New York Navy Yard, 27 April 1898, following conversion to an auxiliary cruiser. Her hull is being repainted from civilian black to wartime Navy gray. Ship outboard of her is probably USS Prairie.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 93,752 bytes; 740 x 645 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43670

USS Yosemite (1898-1900)

Photographed in 1898. Ship ahead of her may be USS Yankee.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 57,998 bytes; 740 x 520 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 2763

USS Yosemite (1898-1900)

Photographed during the Spanish-American War, 1898.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 64,980 bytes; 590 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 57990

USS Badger (1898-1900)

At the New York Navy Yard, 4 June 1898, preparing for service off Cuba.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 65,430 bytes; 590 x 725 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 67514

USS Badger (1898-1900)

Photographed at the time of the Spanish-American War, 1898.

Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, Corte Madera, CA, 1969.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 47,898 bytes; 740 x 480 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 44471

USS Panther (1898-1922)

Probably photographed during the Spanish-American War, 1898. Ship beyond her bow is either USS Helena or USS Wilmington.

Donated by Rear Admiral Ammen C. Farenholt, USN(MC).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 64,287 bytes; 740 x 585 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 44063

USS Resolute (1898-99)

Off Portsmouth, New Hampshire, possibly while transporting Spanish prisoners of war in July 1898. Photographed by Miss E. J. Trenchard.

Courtesy of Edward Trenchard, 1907.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 54,572 bytes; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-17-24-2

USS Peoria (1898-1922)

Photographed circa May 1898, possibly at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, following conversion for naval service.

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

Online Image: 85,425 bytes; 740 x 615 pixels

Reproductions of this image are also available through the National Archives' photographic reproduction system.

 

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24 July 1998