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OREGON TODAY
Today, what remains of a once proud warship is very little, contained in two parks along Front Avenue in Portland, Oregon. The first park is Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, named after one of Oregon's governors. A small portion of this park are dedicated to the most prominent piece left, the military mast of the USS Oregon, which rightfully so, is called Battleship Oregon Memorial Marine Park.
About half a mile north of the mast of the Oregon is another park called Liberty Ship Memorial Park. In this small park are three tall flagpoles and two gray smoke stacks from the USS Oregon. An interesting fact about this park, is that it is a quasi-ship graveyard. Buried in the ground are the bows of 110 liberty ships. One will notice a few pieces of the mass-produced transports above ground and a plaque with the names of the ships "buried".
Between these two parks are the remaining pieces of a once proud and historic warship. A few other pieces remain, such as the ships bell, which is located in the Naval Reserve Center in Eugene, Oregon and the ship's binnacle which is located in a museum across the street from the mast. The Oregon Historical Society (OHS) also has a lifering from the ship, a steam pressure gauge, and a few other pieces including the silver service set that was donated by the citizens of Oregon. The Oregon Maritime Center and Museum (OMCM) has a display of the famed battleship and is located across from the mast as does the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon.
Photograph taken by website author.
Numerous pieces and artifacts from the USS Oregon remain. The military mast is the largest and then the two smoke stacks. Below is a list of artifacts that remain.
Ships bell: Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center, Eugene, Oregon
Ships quarterdeck bell: Bremerton Naval Museum, Bremerton, Washington
Jacking Gear Wrench (13" Gun): Bremerton Naval Museum, Bremerton Washington
Ship's Binnacle: Oregon Maritime Center and Museum, Portland, Oregon
One pound gun: Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria Oregon
Inclinometer - Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria Oregon
Life Ring: Oregon Historical Society, Portland, Oregon
Steam Gauge: Oregon Historical Society, Portland, Oregon
Name Board: Oregon Historical Society, Portland, Oregon
Silver Service Set (On loan from private party): Oregon Historical Society, Portland, Oregon
Radio-Shack: Private residence in a suburb of Portland, Oregon
Boiler: Located in a old mining camp just east of Salem, Oregon
Other smaller pieces such as actual metal from the ship (left) and small blocks of wood are in possession of private individuals plus numerous models of the Oregon exists such as the one below which is at the Bremerton Naval Museum.
Photograph taken by website author.
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Pleadwell
Above: One of the ships wheels from the USS Oregon. This wheel was probably found in a below compartment in the after steering compartment. The wheel will be on display at the Jeff's Pirate Cove in Guam. If you are in the area, pay him a visit