Protected Cruiser Albany, Helm Wheel Removal, Accession #: 2015.014.023
December 2022
NMUSN-5137: Protected cruiser Albany’s Helm Wheel, December 2022. Collections Manager Wesley Schwenk and Exhibit Specialist Tom Pottast prepare to take the wheel off display from the Spanish American War exhibit area. Official U.S. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
Etched Helm Wheel from the protected cruiser Albany reads, “USS Albany / 1899”. A helm wheel is also known as the steering wheel of a ship. The protected cruiser was launched in February 1899. Serving in both the Pacific and Caribbean, she became the flagship for Squadron 6, Patrol Force, Atlantic Fleet during World War I. Following assistance in the Russian Civil War in 1919, she returned to duty with the Asiatic Fleet. Reclassified as a light-cruiser in 1921 - (CL-23), Albany was decommissioned in October 1922, then scrapped in 1930. The wheel was removed from display in the Spanish-American War section in December 2022 and transferred to the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Curator Branch, Collection Management Facility in Richmond, Virginia.
NMUSN-5138: Protected cruiser Albany’s Helm Wheel, December 2022. Wheel has been taken off display from the Spanish-American War exhibit area and is being lowered by forklift. Official U.S. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5139: Protected cruiser Albany’s Helm Wheel, December 2022. Wheel has been taken off display from the Spanish-American War exhibit area and is being transported by forklift. Official U.S. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5140: Protected cruiser Albany’s Helm Wheel, December 2022. Museum staff discusses how to remove the wheel from the forklift to a resting position. Shown, left to right: Museum Specialist Tom Potthast, Collections Manager Wesley Schwenk, and Museum Specialist Dan Ronquillo. Official U.S. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5141: Protected cruiser Albany’s Helm Wheel, December 2022. Museum staff discusses how to remove the wheel from the forklift to a resting position. Shown, left to right: Museum Specialist Tom Potthast, Museum Curator Eddie Valentin, Collections Manager Wesley Schwenk, and Museum Specialist Dan Ronquillo. Official U.S. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5142: Protected cruiser Albany’s Helm Wheel, December 2022. Wheel following being taken down from the Spanish American War display area. Official U.S. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
NMUSN-5143: Protected cruiser Albany’s Helm Wheel, December 2022. Wheel while on display in the Spanish American War display area. Official U.S. National Museum of the U.S. Navy Photograph. Digital only.
