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Spanish-American warship spared, at least for now

The Olympia - last surviving warship of the Spanish-American War of 1898 - may still be scrapped or face a watery grave as an artificial reef off Cape May without money for restoration.

But the Penn's Landing attraction will not close as originally planned Monday after the Independence Seaport Museum's decision, announced late Wednesday, to fund interim repairs.

The Olympia will continue its daily visiting hours through Dec. 31, then move to a three-day schedule through March 31 while its fate is pondered.

The museum plans to hold a summit early next year with the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command, National Park Service, and Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission to determine what steps can be taken to save the ship....
Read entire article at Philadelphia Inquirer