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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--
Cruisers--USS Boston and USS Charleston

Boston and Charleston were protected cruisers, built during the 1880s, which operated with the Asiatic Squadron during and after the Spanish-American War. Boston participated in the Battle of Manila Bay, Charleston (Cruiser # 2) captured Guam, and both ships had active roles in the Philippines in 1898-99.

Charleston was wrecked north of Luzon on 2 November 1899. Boston's seagoing service ended prior to World War I, but she continued on as a stationary receiving ship until 1946.

USS Atlanta, sister ship to Boston, and the larger contemporary cruiser, USS Chicago, were both undergoing modernization in 1898 and saw no war service.

This page features views of Boston and Charleston.

If better quality 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 100286

USS Boston (1887-1946)

Photographed circa 1890. The original photograph was printed on a stereograph card, published by Strohmeyer and Wyman, 1898.

Donation of Louis Smaus, 1985.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

A stereo pair version of this image is available as Photo # NH 100286-A.

Online Image: 51,792 bytes; 590 x 640 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 61941

USS Boston (1887-1946)

Departing New York Harbor for a European deployment, 1889. The Statue of Liberty is in the background, between Boston's two smokestacks. Photographed by E.H. Hart.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 64,843 bytes; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 56520

USS Boston (1887-1946)

Steams out through the Golden Gate, California, late in 1895, en route to the western Pacific. During this three-and-a-half year deployment, Boston participated in the Battle of Manila Bay and other Spanish-American War activities.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 52,252 bytes; 740 x 630 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 61939

USS Charleston (C-2)

Off Hong Kong in 1898, wearing grey "war paint".

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 59,860 bytes; 740 x 535 pixels

 

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28 February 1998