Portland Attraction Pass
  
OHS.orgCollections
Battleship Oregon
The Oregon underway showing its impressive bow wake
 
Bulldog of the Navy
Exhibit Hours

Buy Tickets
The mighty battleship Oregon played a pivotal role in the Spanish-American War of 1898 and became a symbol for several decades of the United States’ naval strength.

The Oregon and two other battleships were constructed to help modernize the U.S. Navy after its post-Civil War decline. In 1891, the Union Iron Works of San Francisco began building the ship.

After it surpassed speed expectations, the well-built ship became known as the “Bulldog of the Navy” for its large foaming bow wake that resembled a bone in the teeth of a dog.

Prior to the war, the ship sailed from San Francisco through the Straits of Magellan to Florida in a record-breaking 60 days. The top-speed journey captured the hearts of the American public and later became a persuasive rationale for constructing the Panama Canal.

By the end of the Spanish-American War, the United States had established an overseas presence and become a world-class naval power.

In this exhibit, learn about
  • The Oregon's important role in the war
  • Her distinguished captain
  • Life on board
  • Activities after the war
  • Efforts to preserve the ship
Battleship Oregon: Bulldog of the Navy is curated by Ken Lomax and Rose Tucker Fellows Sara Lawrence-Paulson and Elizabeth Mendenhall.

Current Exhibits
Supporting young children's investigations and expressions:
Salem Capitol Building: Oregon: 150 Years of Statehood; 150 Million Years in the Making
Western Native Basketry
Portholes to Past Pleasures
Oregon My Oregon
Oregon Art
The Benson Automobile
The Battleship Oregon
Arte en la Charrerķa
License to Drive
prints-banner