Volume 4, Issue 2 A Newsletter for the Supporters of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum ""· SiD 010 H£WIH0 -\JHO DESTROYED THE 1'\AINf MAINEEXTRA NEW~RN The Norfolk-based battleship USS Maine (BB-2/c, ex-ACR-1). She spent much of her short life in Hampton Roads and off the coast of Virginia while with the North Atlantic Squadron. Her tragic destruction in Havana, Cuba on Feb. 15, 1898 strained already bad Spanish-American relations to WA.RISUREr the breaking point. (USS photo, HRNM, cover, New York Public Library) ~t .WOo Df.STROYEI> BY SPA.~; THIS PJ!C Maine New York Journal A8SOU1lliLY BY DISC ,.,..);IU.h M'( Maine Remembered , ......u• JCIIfM~4'-.". TORPEDO- by Gordon Calhoun ere are a few events in American most ready example of this type ofevent. military history which are so The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair of 1807 T:traumatic and shocking that they and the German U-boat attack on the force the public to stop whatever they are cruise ship SS Lusitania in 1915 are doing and take notice. These events stir similar examples. Feb. 15 will mark the guns and four torpedo tubes. For the average American's emotions so 1OOth anniversary of the most emotional protection, she had a 12-inch thick belt much, that the public cries out for of this type of tragedy: the explosion of made of a nickel-steel alloy around the something to be done. The surprise attack the Norfolk-based battleship USS Maine hull, with 10-inch plates protecting on the naval station at Pearl Harbor by (BB-2/c, ex-ACR-1 ). the turrets, engineering plants, and the Japanese Navy on Dec. 7, 1941 is the The battleship is easily recognizable ammunition magazines. Her propulsion in pictures. With two off-center lined included state-of-the-art triple expanding • Inside The Day Book turrets for her main guns, two smaller engines which gave her a top speed of guns fixed forward, and a huge ram in just over 16 knots. Launched in 1893 The Director's Column................. 2 the front, Maine had a very unique and commissioned into the fleet in 1895, First Speaker for 1998.................. 3 design. Maine represented the very best Artist Henry Reuterdahl............. 4 For a battleship, she was small as she American technology had to offer. One Volunteer News & Notes .............. 9 only displaced 6,682 tons. She was part of the ship, however, had very The Museum Sage...................... tO equipped with 10- inch rifled guns as her ancient roots. Naval architects called for Animals and theN avy Exhibit... ll main armament along with 21 smaller USS Maine continued on Page 6 Coming Soon: HRNM 's Greatest Hits The Director's Column by Becky Poulliot e fates have been kind to the names. will be forthcoming as design proceeds museum. We received word All research findings will be in the upcoming months. Both projects ecently that the Hampton Roads examined for the most compelling will be time-consuming, perhaps two Naval Museum has received funding aspects and then used as a basis for a to three years before fmal production. for two very important projects. The new hands-on, interactive Battle of the To celebrate this good news, the first project will digitize the museum's Atlantic exhibit. As most of you are new year, and most importantly, our entire photograph and artwork aware, our current mini-theater gives generous volunteers, be sure to attend collection onto CD-ROM. More than comprehensive coverage but the the party on Jan. 27 at the Norfolk 5,000 photographs, blueprints, and technology is somewhat passive in Yacht and Country Club. Invitations other images will be placed on a media nature. At nine minutes, the length have been mailed. If you have not device that can be used by schools, cultural institutions, and individuals. The challenge we face is to offer a thoughtful, The second project is equally encompassing presentation that incorporates exciting. The museum will tackle the Battle of the Atlantic again. Our video, life stories, and even detailed statistics in a foremost goal is to become an authoritative center for anyone hands-on format. interested in studying the campaign. turns off many younger visitors. World received one or wish to RSVP please Monies have been set aside to research War II enthusiasts do not despair; the call 322-2992. primary source material (such as after new exhibit will by no means be a slick The museum's newest exhibit "A action reports) and to interview cosmetic presentation. The challenge Sailor's Best Friend: Animals and the participants. All information will then we face is to offer a thoughtful, U.S. Navy" is now open for viewing. be assembled here. In keeping with the encompassing presentation that We had a very successful media day museum's mission, r~h will fo~c:!!u~s -~in..,c~o~o""r!.-"a..._te""s'--"v...,id,.,e"-'o<->--..!l'-"ifi..,._~~n..,.· ,..._..,a~d nt O.Il ov 6_tp offkliilly_Qp_e.n the_ on the Hampton Roads aspect. If you even detailed statistics in a hands-on exhibit. Refer to page II to learn more know any living participants of the format. Right now we foresee about the exhibit and the accompanying campaign, please contact me with their interactive stations. More information educational packet prepared for children from ages 4-IO. In addition to the exhibit, we are pleased to announce a joint effort with the Norfolk chapter of the Society for Prevention LocRl Hi1tory. Wo rId Event 1. of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA.) See About The Day Book HRNM Staff page 3 for more details. Lastly, I998 marks the I OOth The Day Book is an authorized publication ofthe Hampton anniversary of the Spanish-American Director Roads Naval Museum (HRNM). Its contents do not necessarily War. Over the next year, The Day Book reflect the official view ofthe U.S. Government, the Department Becky Poulliot of Defense, the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps and do not Curator will print a series of articles on events imply endorsement thereof. The HRNM is a museum dedicated Joe Judge from this important conflict. While to the study of 220 years of naval history in the Hampton Roads Education Specialist much of the fighting happened in Bob Matteson region. The museum is open Mondays from 9 am. to 4 p.m. foreign countries, many of the Naval and Tuesday through Sunday from I 0 am. to 5 p.m. Admission Exhibits Specialist is free. Marta Nelson vessels involved in the war-including The Day Book's purpose is to educate and inform readers on Museum Technician the ill-fated battleship Maine had a very historical topics and museum related events. It is written by the Ofelia Elbo close connection to the Hampton Roads HRNMOIC staff and volunteers of the museum. The newsletter takes its region. • name from a 19th century Norfolk newspaper. Ensign Ron Hartsell Questions or comments can be directed to the Hampton HRNM LPO/I'PU Admin. My best wishes to all for a Happy Roads Naval Museum editor. The Day Book can be reached at AZ3 (A W) Eric Minshall New Year. (757) 322-2993, by fax at (757) 445-1867, or write The Day Editor ofThe Day Book Book, Hampton Roads Naval Museum, One Waterside Drive, Gordon Calhoun Suite 248, Norfolk, VA 23510-1607. The museum can be found Director, HRNHF on the World Wide Web at http://naval-station.norfolk.vaus/ Maj.Gen.Dennis Murphy, navy.html. The Day Book is published bi-monthly with a USMC(Ret) circulation of I ,200. 2 Renown Military Historian to Kick off HRNM's 1998 Lecture Series he Hampton Roads Naval one disaster after another. He arrived in Museum is pleased to welcome Savannah just before Sherman's army TCol. Joe Alexander, USMC arrived and fled to Charleston, where he (Ret.) as its first speaker for the 1998 was put in charge of scuttling the ironclad lecture series. A well known and squadron there. Finally, he made his way respected military historian, Alexander to Richmond, only to be captured at the will speak about Midshipman Robert Battle of Sailor's Creek in 1865. Chester Foute of the ironclad CSS Col. Alexander has been published Virginia. This talk will take place on several times including four World War March 5 at Norfolk Live! located inside II campaign histories ofthe Marine Corps Gate 2 on the Norfolk Naval Base. in the Pacific. Among his works are A The subject and story of Alexander's Fellowship of Valor: The Battle History talk, Midshipman Foute, is an excellent ofthe U.S. Marines (winner of the 1997 example of what it was like to be an U.S. Naval Institute's Book Award) and officer in the Confederate States Navy. Utmost Savagery: The Three Days of Like many other southern officers, he Tawara. He has also been advisor and served with bravery and honor despite writer for the cable channel Arts & the fact that the Confederate Navy was Entertainment Network's "Biography" The Hampton Roads Naval Museum welcomes nationally known military historian Col. Joe severely outgunned and outmanned. and "Our Century" programs, and Alexander, USMC (Ret.) for a March 5 lunch Foute also happens to be Alexander's the History Channel's upcoming and speaking engagement as its first speaker for · great-great-great uncle. documentaries on the Spanish-American 1998. Call (757) 322-2992 for more information. Foute's career with the Confederate War and the Marine Corps in the Pacific University of North Carolina and Navy began in earnest as a gunnery during World War II.