…Continued from John Yeon Building.
Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on September 10, 2008
The U.S.S. Oregon was built by the Union Iron Works of San Francisco, launched on October 26, 1893 and placed in commission on July 31, 1896.
Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on September 10, 2008
During the Spanish-American War, the battleship Oregon, under the command of Captain C. E. Clark, left San Francisco on March 19, 1898, going through the Strait of Magellan and arriving at Key West, Florida, a distance of 14,000 miles, 66 days later on May 23, setting a record and joining the American fleet at the Battle of Santiago Bay at Cuba, aiding the American victory by sinking the Spanish ships Viscaya and Colon.
Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on September 10, 2008
During World War I, the Oregon served as a coastal defense and training ship.
Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on September 10, 2008
On July 14, 1925, the Oregon was placed in the custody of the Battleship Oregon Commission, on loan to the State of Oregon to service as a historic memorial and museum. The Oregon was moored in the Portland harbor.
Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on September 10, 2008
Historical Photos:
Battleship Oregon in Portland harbor, 1925 (Salem Public Library)
Battleship Oregon in Portland harbor, 1940 (Salem Public Library)
Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on September 7, 2008
During World War II, the Navy reclaimed the Oregon for the war effort.
Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on September 7, 2008
The superstructure was dismantled for scrap metal and the hull was placed in service as an ammunition barge.
Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on September 7, 2008
Various components of the Oregon were saved from scrap, including the main foremast.
Battleship Oregon Plaque on September 7, 2008
A plaque telling the history of the Oregon was cast by Oregon Brass Works for the Battleship Oregon Naval Post 1478 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, who presented it to the City of Portland on October 29, 1944.
Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on September 7, 2008
The mast was originally placed at Harbor Drive and SW Clay Street, south of the Hawthorne Bridge.
Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on September 7, 2008
Historical Photos:
Battleship Oregon Memorial, unknown date (UO)
Battleship Oregon Memorial, October 1, 1980 (UO)
Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on September 7, 2008
The Oregon's main foremast was used by the Portland Council of the Navy League of the United States to create the Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park on the Portland waterfront near where the Oregon herself had been moored as a museum.
Battleship Oregon Plaque on September 7, 2008
The Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park was dedicated on October 27, 1956.
Spanish-American War Nurse Memorial on September 7, 2008
A plaque was added to an existing memorial from September 14, 1938 honoring all Spanish-American War nurses.
Battleship Oregon Figurehead & Chain on September 7, 2008
The figurehead of the Oregon was part of the original memorial. The links of chain are from the Oregon's anchor and continued to serve the ship's hull in World War II until it was scrapped.
Battleship Oregon Anchor Chain Plaque on September 7, 2008
The links of anchor chain were donated by the City of Yokohama, Japan to the United States Navy. The Navy presented them to the City of Portland on June 8, 1979.
Battleship Oregon Bollard on September 7, 2008
This bollard is also part of the memorial. It bears a plaque describing the ship's record-breaking voyage from San Francisco to Key West and involvement in the Spanish-American War "In remembrance of the United States Battleship Oregon (commissioned July 1896) and her officers and men."
Battleship Oregon Bollard Plaque on September 7, 2008
This plaque may have been on the ship when it served as a museum in Portland.
Battleship Oregon Marines Plaque on September 7, 2008
The foremast itself bears a plaque donated by the Marine Corps League: "A tribute to all U.S. Marines who served aboard the U.S.S. Oregon."
Battleship Oregon Blue Star Memorial on September 7, 2008
A Blue Star Memorial from the National Council of State Garden Clubs was placed here as "A tribute to the Armed Forces that have defended the United States of America." It was sponsored by Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. and the Portland District No. 1 Garden Clubs in cooperation with the Portland Council of the U.S. Navy League.
Battleship Oregon Pearl Harbor Plaque on September 7, 2008
There is also a plaque here in remembrance of the attack on Pearl Harbor and in particular the 1,177 men entombed aboard the U.S.S. Arizona. It includes the following famous quote from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Declaration of War on December 8, 1941:
"Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a day that will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan...No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win though to absolute victory."
The plaque was dedicated on the 50th Anniversary of "The Day of Infamy" by the Portland Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, to the brave men and women who participated in the defense of the attack at Pearl Harbor and other military bases on the Island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.
Flagpole near Battleship Oregon Memorial on September 7, 2008
This flagpole near the Battleship Oregon Memorial was donated by the Portland Navy League, apparently to the Portland Rose Festival Association.
Plaque on Flagpole on September 7, 2008
The flagpole seems to be dedicated to Gene Autry, "An American Cowboy." Portland radio stations KEX and KQFM were also involved.
Plaque on Flagpole on September 7, 2008
Continue to Tom McCall Waterfront Park…
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