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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Niagara (SP-136, later PY-9), 1918-1933.
Originally Steam Yacht Niagara (1898)
Niagara, a 1443 gross ton steam yacht, was built in
1898 at Wilmington, Delaware, by the firm of Harlan and Hollingsworth.
Purchased by the Navy in August 1917 from Howard Gould of New
York City, she was converted to a patrol vessel and placed in
commission in mid-April 1918 as USS Niagara (SP-136). Beginning
a month later she was employed to escort convoys between the United
States, Bermuda and the Azores. In September 1918 Niagara
went to the West Indies, where she escorted a cable ship between
several ports. She returned to the U.S. in December, some weeks
after the Armistice had ended the First World War's fighting.
Following repairs, in mid-1919 Niagara was used for
training in the Long Island Sound area. She steamed south again
in September to operate in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, where
she remained into 1922. When the Navy implemented its hull number
system in July 1920, Niagara was designated PY-9. Out of
commission between April 1922 and June 1924, the former yacht
was next assigned to surveying duties in the Caribbean region.
These tasks continued until October 1930. USS Niagara was
decommissioned in early March 1931, stricken from the list of
Navy ships in December of that year, and sold for scrapping in
September 1933.
This page features all the views we have concerning the
steam yacht Niagara of 1898 and USS Niagara (SP-136,
later PY-9).
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 102908
Niagara (American Steam Yacht, 1898)
Photograph taken prior to her World War I Navy service. It is
printed on a postal card.
This yacht was acquired by the Navy on 10 August 1917 from Howard
Gould of New York City, and placed in commission on 16 April
1918 as USS Niagara (SP-136). Redesignated PY-9 in July
1920, she was decommissioned on 3 March 1931 and sold for scrapping
on 13 September 1933.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 38KB; 740 x 490 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 2232
USS Niagara (PY-9)
At anchor, circa 1920, probably in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Note her eagle figurehead.
Collection of Gustave Maurer, ex-Chief Photographer, 1921.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 44823
USS Niagara (PY-9)
In Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa 1920.
Two battleships are in the background.
Collection of Gustave Maurer, ex-Chief Photographer, 1921.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 555 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 1094
USS Niagara (PY-9)
At anchor, probably while assigned to surveying duty during the
1920s.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 570 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 102937
USS Niagara (PY-9)
In port, during the early 1920s.
Collection of Captain Frederick R. Naile, USN.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 465 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 68340
USS Niagara (PY-9)
In a Caribbean-area port while on surveying duty, circa the 1920s.
Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 470 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 46458
USS Niagara (PY-9)
At the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, circa 1931-1933,
while being stripped for sale.
Courtesy of the Philadelphia "Inquirer", 1936.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 46460
USS Niagara (PY-9)
Sailor working on the ship's eagle figurehead, while she was
being stripped for sale at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania,
circa 1931-1933.
Courtesy of the Philadelphia "Inquirer", 1936.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
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The following photographs may have been taken on board USS
Niagara:
Photo #: NH 46461
Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania
Sailor uses a pneumatic chipping tool to remove paint from a
small gun pedestal, on board a ship at the Navy Yard during the
early 1930s.
The ship may be USS Niagara (PY-9).
Courtesy of the Philadelphia "Inquirer", 1936.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 46459
Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania
Section of structure, including bathroom facilities, removed
from a ship being scrapped at the Navy Yard during the early
1930s.
The ship may be USS Niagara (PY-9).
Courtesy of the Philadelphia "Inquirer", 1936.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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In addition to the views reference above, the National Archives
appears to hold at least one other photograph of the steam yacht
Niagara of 1898. The following listing describes this image:
The image listed below is NOT in the
Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our
page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".
Photo #: 80-G-1025904
Steam yacht Niagara dressed with flags, while at anchor
prior to World War I.
Starboard bow surface view. The ship is rigged as a barque.
Note: The original photo is labeled as USS Niagara
(PY-9), but was actually taken prior to the ship's U.S. Navy
service.
Reproductions of this image should be available through the
National Archives photographic
reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical
Center.
The image listed above is NOT in the
Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it
using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain
Photographic Reproductions".
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Page made 29 April 2005