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STOP PA BUDGET CUTS: Save the Olympia!

During these dismal economic times, the Pennsylvania state government has been looking to cut their budget in any way possible. Sadly it’s Pennsylvania’s great historic properties that are often bearing the brunt of these cost-cutting measures. Last year’s budget shortfall forced Pennsylvania to close or reduce hours at 13 historic sites, and additional cuts are expected to be enacted this year. Until recently Pennsylvania has been a model for its commitment and care of historic places. However, a Washington based group “National Trust” has recently listed Pennsylvania as one of six states that are prime examples of the nationwide problem.

One example of a historic site falling on hard times is the Olympia warship, docked at the waterfront alongside Philadelphia’s Seaport museum. Commissioned in 1895, the Olympia led five other state of the art U.S warships into Manila Bay in the Philipines. The Olympia spent World War I in the Atlantic Ocean, and was docked in Philadelphia in 1922. It has been on display ever since, and today is the world’s oldest floating steel ship.

However, the once mighty Olympia has begun to show her age. The half-inch steel hull has corroded to an eighth of an inch, and requires significant maintenance. Yet instead of investing in the preservation of this historic beauty, the museum has been discussing plans to sink the ship off the coast of New Jersey as an artificial reef, or dismantle the Olympia for scrap. Historians are outraged at the idea of destroying this floating time capsule, filled with paintings, photos and artifacts from naval history. This would not only be a national disgrace, but a major embarrassment for Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. No decision has been made so far, and all we can do is hope that the state government has enough sense to preserve this piece of history so that it can be enjoyed by future generations.