National Museum of the U.S. Navy

USS Brooklyn (Armored Cruiser #3), was built at William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was commissioned on December 1, 1896.  After a special cruise to Great Britian to celebrate Queen Victoria and service in the West Indies, she became the flagship of the Flying Squadron in March 1898.  For service in the Spanish-American War, Brooklyn participated in the Battle of Santiago on July 3.  Following the war, she steamed to become the flagship of the Asiatic Squadron during the China Relief Expedition in 1900.   Two years later, Brooklyn was at the transfer ceremonies for Cuba from the United States to the Cuban government, which was followed by four years of service in the North Atlantic Fleet and European Squadron.  In June 1905, she departed for Cherbourg, France, to receive the remains of John Paul Jones for internment at the U.S. Naval Academy.  After this journey, the armored cruiser went in and out of commission at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and served as a receiving ship at Boston, Massaschusetts, until recommissioned to serve as the flagship for the Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet.  In this position, she performed military and diplomatic duties until September 1919 upon which she became the flagship of Commander, Destroyer 1, Asiastic Fleet, then the flagship of Commander, Destroyer Squadrons.   In July 1920, she was redesignated as CA-3.  Departing Asiatic waters in February 1921, Brooklyn was decommissioned in March then sold that December. 

A model of Brooklyn was on display in the Spanish-American War section at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Bldg 76, until 2022.    

Image: NH 440:  USS Brooklyn (Armored Cruiser #3).  Artwork by Fred S. Cozzens, 1893.   Courtesy of the Navy Art Gallery.  U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.