Tours.

This is coolbert:

Virtual tours.

Here with several virtual tours that have a military naval dimension to them.

American warships from past times, now museum pieces, memorial, monuments to American naval greatness. Olympia, Texas, Alabama.

The cruiser USS Olympia and the battleships USS Alabama and USS Texas moored more or less permanently now, not able to sail on their own accord [not seaworthy even if able to "power up and underway"].

Historical reclics now of a bygone era, that time of the large size warship using gunfire to sink the enemy, battles fought in an age-old manner, mano-a-mano, as in the time of Nelson, Trafalgar and all that.

Warships the manner of warfare at sea even having changed as it has in modern times, the building of such a vessel NOW COST PROHIBITIVE  missions even now archaic!!

1. "Virtual Visit to the OLYMPIA"

The Olympia flagship of the American Asiatic Squadron at the Battle of Manila Bay [1898]. Commodore Dewey and Captain Gridley leading the way, the United States with this one battle ascending to the ranks of a major power, a player on the world stage undisputed, with global reach thanks to the U.S. Navy.

 Here the crew quarters. Hammocks for sleeping standard for the period. I can imagine for the average sailor his accomodations were hot as hell during the summer and cold as ice during the winter!

 The stateroom of the Olympia. That stateroom with separate entry-way for either Dewey or Gridley not merely for show but used during diplomatic functions and negotiations! Presenting the best face forward to the foreign visitor of some rank and station most imporrtant!

Personally, if I was a dot.com billionaire or similar, I would BUY that USS Olympia [is it for sale or can it be bought], refurbish that ship, make it sail-able again and have it for my own personal use. Please keep in mind that the eight inch [200 mm] guns of the Olympia are merely for show, replicas and are not real.

2.  "BATTLESHIP USS ALABAMA"

The USS Alabama a much more modern and robust and deadly naval vessel than the Olympia.


THOSE BATTLESHIP OF THE DREADNOUGHT ERA AND BEYOND AN INDICATION OF THE SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF A NATION!! THE USS Iowa until relatively recently the most complicated thing made by man.

Those various panning images from the virtual tour showing the exterior and interior of the Alabama, at least those portions open to the public immaculate and in fine shape, almost as if NEW!!

3. "Battleship TEXAS   First TEXAS Volunteers' Website"




 An interesting aspect of the USS Texas exhibit is that the civilian during a "hard hat tour" can be led into the interior of the ship by guides to see portions rarely open.

"Hard Hat Tours"

Participants will be able to see areas of the ship rarely seen by the public. Featured highlights of the tours include the Ammo Handling Room, Drying Room, Boiler Room, Main Radio Room, Plotting Room, Forward Dynamo Room, Forward Power Distribution Room, Central Station, # 1 Turret, and the Pilot House."

Hard hat tours taking over three hours and be prepared. Tours offerred only at certain times of year, such is the interior of the ship becoming so hot that it is unbearable and not for the faint or meek!!

"During the May and October Tours it can be warm below decks. You should exercise caution when booking your tours. There are NO tours during the summer months."

For the retired person with independent means you could almost make a career touring the United States and viewing all these naval monuments and memorials. Floating museums that the tourist can avail themselves of in a way that is seldom possible!

coolbert.