The Great White Fleet in Elliot Bay

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Elliot Bay Arrival - Seattle, Washington

The fleet was met by the Mayor of Seattle who presented a gift of the golden key to the city. Admiral Sperry accepted the key made from "gold that came from the land where the Arctic moon shines on snowfields of dazzling brilliance, where the days are bright with sunshine and the hights are ablaze with the multi-colored gleam from the Northern lights."

This is a great view of two fleet units anchored in Elliot Bay with Queen Anne hill in the background. The units shown, at left either the Kentucky or Kearsarge, and at right, the Wisconsin, Illinois, or Alabama. In the center is a small pleasure craft visting the ships with tourists. (select to view)

Souvenir Pin, Key to City

Admiral Sperry accepted the gift and used the opportunity to express his thanks to the citizens of Seattle and American whos "patriotism and good wishes will spur them to better effort."

When the Commander-in-Chief, his staff and the captains of the fleet whent on deck, Admiral Sperry, looking across the Sound to the Olympic mountains,said:

"I have found Puget Sound a delightful place. If I were a millionaire I believe that I would give half of my posessions for the experience of going through the Sound. It is a beautiful body of water, and I have enjoyed every moment of my visit here."

Seattle professional photographer that took many of the pictures seen on postcards from the fleet's visit was Asahel Curtis, brother to Edward Curtis, the famous photographer of native Americans during the same period. Unlike Enrique Muller, Asahel took photographs of just about everything. Much of his work was scenic view of the mountains around Seattle.

The above cards show how common and available these photographs were. Within a day of seeing the fleet cards were available for tourists to mail home to friends.

Fleet Entering Puget Sound - Oaks #447

At Left: Steamer tows liberty boats in Elliot Bay to put sailors ashore.

Center: This card is titled Pacific Squadron Leaving Puget Sound. It is not a photo of the Great White Fleet, but rather the cruiser squadron stationed on the West coast before the fleet was dispatched.

At Right: The Great White Fleet rounding Magnolia in Seattle to enter Elliot Bay.

At Left: A Romans card depicting the Pacific Squadron with USS South Dakota in foreground.

At Right: The Great White Fleet in Puget Sound.

Oaks #446

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