A wooden holiday ornament showcasing Cruiser Olympia and Submarine Becuna docked at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia.
Original Image: Independence Seaport Museum
Cruiser Olympia (C-6) is the oldest remaining steel ship afloat, built during a transformative time in American culture, science, and technology. Rising to fame as Commodore (later Admiral) George Dewey’s flagship during the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898, the ship served in various capacities during her time in service, including as a training vessel and providing humanitarian relief in the Adriatic. Her last act of service, before being decommissioned, was to bring home the American Unknown Soldier from World War I from Le Havre, France, to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Submarine Becuna (SS-319) is a Balo-class submarine that launched in January 1944 after just nine months of construction and was sent directly to the Pacific theater of World War II. During her 25 years in service, the submarine traveled globally and even underwent a modernization process known as the “GUPPY” Program. Becuna is the only Guppy 1-A type submarine remaining anywhere in the world.