Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0391Description
A black and whtie stereograph. Image is of a steam ship on the water. Above the image "46" is printed, below the image "32231 The President's yacht, the Mayflower, Leaving the Navy Yard, Washingotn, D. C." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company COPYRIGHTED Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
32231
THE "MAYFLOWER," WITH THE PRESIDENT AND PARTY ON BOARD, WASHINGTON, D. C.
For more than a quarter of a century the trim and graceful vessel before us, which is often to be seen streaming along the Potomac near Washington, has occupied an unique position among the ships of the United States Navy. The "Mayflower" was built at Clydebank, Scotland, and is a steam yacht of 2,690 tons displacement, 273 ft. in length and 36 ft. beam. She was purchased from the estate of Ogden Goelet by the Government in march 1898, armed with six 6-pounder guns and used as dispatch boat for the American blockading squadron off Havana, Cuba, during the war with Spain. After long service in West Indian waters she was recommissioned in 1902 and designated for the personal service of the President. She was, however, frequently used on other duty, such as flagship of the Carribean squadron during the disturbances incident to the revolution in Panama, in 1903. On board the "Mayflower," at Oyster Bay, in July, 1905, President Roosevelt formally introduced the Russian and Japanese pease envoys to one another and the yacht later carried them to Portsmouth, N. H., where they negotiated the treaty terminating the Russo-Japanese War. The American Battleship Squadron, on its return from its cruise around the world in 1908 was reviewed by Prsident Roosevelt from the deck of the "Mayflower." In 1917, after the United States had entered the World War, President Wilson sent her to Hampton Roads to meet the members of the French Commision, including ex-Premier Viviant and Marshal Joffre, to convey them to Washington.
Such have been a few of the momentous events in the career of the "Mayflower" which is held always at the disposition of the President for his personal use or for duties assigned by him
Copyright Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection