At three minutes before 11 a.m. the fleet was sighted from Coronado and 13 minutes ahead of schedule.

At 12:47 the fleet anchored off the Hotel del Coronado finishing what was a monumental task and message to the world of nations.  Sixteen battleships of the American fleet had steamed more than 14,600 miles arriving in better condition than when they departed, battle ready.

At Left:  Three photos from a scrap book showing the fleet's arrival and a support ship of the fleet in the harbor at San Diego.  Select image to see enlarged.

The above cards show the fleet in San Diego Harbor.  At left - arriving, middle - at anchor, and right - Flagship Connecticut.  These cards are part of the Lester Clement Barton group of photograpns from the fleet's visit to California.

The Arrival was seen as the biggest event in San Diego's history.

Left:  A leather badge with an image of Evans for the fleet's arrival in San Diego.

Right:  A card showing the fleet's arrival to the harbor in a column formation.

Twenty thousand people lined the shores to witness the arrival.  Never before had San Diego been the scene of such a gathering of cheer and enthusiasm.  Early in the morning crowds had started heading for Coronado, the street cars and ferries were jammed.  Thousands ignored the street cars and choose to walk.  The fleet approached in a squadron formation.  When they had gotten to within clear sight of the spectators, the lead ship Connecticut could be seen turning slightly before dropping her anchor.  The other ships followed in turn.

At left is the official program for the Ball given in honor of Admiral Evans at the Hotel Del Coronado.  Select this link to see inside.

The fleet prepared and landed 5,000 Sailors and Marines for what was the largest naval parade in American history up until that point.  It surpassed the New York City parde for Admiral Dewey upon his victorious retun home.

The Fleet arriving in San Diego on April 10th.  (H. H. Stratton series)

With machine like percision the fleet landed 4,000 sailors in 40 minutes from 1:33 p.m. to 2:13 p.m. an impressive feat.  The Marines and Band members were transferred ashore using the supply ship Culoga.  The transfer of men had been planned carefully with the modification of the facilties at Spreckels Brothers Commercial Warf by adding lighters to the sides of the piers.  With this configuration, the fleet used some 50 cutters towed by the steam launches from each ship.  In this manner, one launch could tow multiple cutters at once filled with 50 to 100 blujackets each.

From Teddy Roosevelt Great White Fleet  "The highlight of this visit came on 15 April when the naval brigade paraded.  Sailors in sixty-four companies with trousers reefed down in canvas leggings and marines in sixteen companies marched for three miles through festive streets from the waterfront to City Park to receive the State of California's official welcome."

The order of the parade formation required considerable planning and coordination to form up the units from each battleship and prepare them for the parade.  

San Diego did not have enough space in hotels to support all of the people visiting the city to see the fleet.  This a a card from Coronado Tent City advertising for the fleet's visit.

Sailors of the fleet were able to go out into the city in card rides and see the homes and business of the community.  The booklet to the left was brought back by Frank Lesher, USS Virginia and can be seen at the link to the right.

The Cruise of Frank B. Lesher

"Alabama" off Coranado during Fleet Celebration

San Diego, Cal.

April 22, 1908

Received your letter.  Been having a great time here during the Fleet Celebration.  Did you read about it there?

M.P.

Welcome Boys in Blue

"Just tell them that you saw me."

Sayonara Taisho

This card presents political humor of the fleet chasing a Japanese man out of California upon their arrival.

This is a typical group of cards that would have been mailed  by the sailors and the people who had come to visit the ships upon their arrival.  They include two Fanjoy cards issued to commorative the fleet's arrival, a photo of the fleet's arrival, a sailor card from Lima, Peru, and a card with a picture of the USS Geogria.