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USS Idaho, a 3241-ton steam sloop, was built at New York as part of a Civil War program of large, very fast, steam cruisers. Completed in May 1866, she ran her trials the following August, making just over eight knots. Her boilers and engines, ordered as a result of political influence, failed totally to achieve her fifteen-knot contract speed.
Briefly laid up after trials, Idaho was converted to a sailing storeship in 1867 and sent to Japan as a base for the U.S. Navy ships operating in Asiatic waters. During that passage, she logged over eighteen knots, making her one of the fastest sailing ships ever built. In September 1869, while en route back to the United States, Idaho was badly damaged by a typhoon. She returned to Japan and remained at Yokohama until sold in April 1874.
This page features views relating to USS Idaho.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."
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Photo #: NH 85971 USS Idaho (1866-1874) Laid up at the New York Navy Yard, probably in the Summer-Fall of 1866, after her unsuccessful trials. Two "Double-Ender" side-wheel gunboats and USS Vermont (1862-1902), are to the right of Idaho. USS Susquehanna (1850-1883) is at the extreme left. This image is cropped from photo # NH 85970. Courtesy of Martin Holbrook, 1977. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 660 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 85970 New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York View along the waterfront, probably in the Summer-Fall of 1866. Ships present are (left to right): USS Wampanoag (1867-1885), fitting out; A screw gunboat of the Kansas or Cayuga class; USS Madawaska (1867-1886), preparing for trials; USS Susquehanna (1850-1883); USS Idaho (1866-1874), laid up after her unsuccessful trials (across the channel from Wampanoag); Two "Double-Ender" side-wheel gunboats; and USS Vermont (1862-1902), in the extreme right background. Courtesy of Martin Holbrook, 1977. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 57KB; 620 x 635 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 1422 USS Idaho (1866-1874) Watercolor on silk, depicting Idaho under full sail following her conversion to a storeship. The mount of the original painting is inscribed: "Dec. 8th 1867 ... ran 130 miles in 8 hours. E.R. Nagasaki, Japan." Collection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 585 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 60631 USS Idaho (1866-1874) Artwork depicting Idaho under full sail following her conversion to a storeship. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 580 pixels |
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Photo #: USMC 527084 USS Idaho (1866-1874) U.S. Navy storeship at Yokohama, Japan. Sketch from the diary kept by Private Allen Walter Bronson, USMC, during the Asiatic cruise of USS Alaska, 1870-1873. U.S. Marine Corps Photograph. Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 490 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo Number 127-G-527084. |
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24 December 1998