The Great White Fleet Battleship Louisiana

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USS Louisiana

Louisiana was laid down 7 February 1903 by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia; launched 27 August 1904; sponsored by Miss Juanita LaLande; and commissioned 2 June 1906, Capt. Albert R. Couden in command.

Following her shakedown off the New England coast, Louisiana sailed 15 September for Havana in response to an appeal by Cuban President Estrado Palma for American help in suppressing an insurrection. The new battleship carried a peace commission, comprised of Secretary of War William H. Taft and Assistant Secretary of State Robert Bacon, which arranged for a provisional government of the island. Louisiana stood by while this government was set up and then returned the commission to Fortress Monroe, Virginia.

Escorted by the new Armored Cruiser Tennessee, Louisiana embarked President Thodore Roosevelt at Piney Point, Maryland, 8 November for a cruise to Panama to inspect work on the construction of the Panama Canal. Returning she briefly visited Puerto Rico, where the President studied the administrative structure of the Commonwealth's government, before debarking him at Piney Point 26 November.

During 1906 and 1907, Louisiana visited New Orleans, Havana and Norfolk; maneuvered out of Guantanamo Bay; and engaged in battle practice along the New England coast. On 16 December 1907, she departed Hampton Roads as one of the 16 battleships President Theodore Roosevelt sent on a voyage around the world. The cruise of the "Great White Fleet" deterred hostile actions toward the United States by other countries, primarily Japan; raised American prestige as a global naval power; and impressed upon Congress the importance of a strong Navy and a thriving merchant fleet. During the circumnavigation, Louisiana visited Port-of-Spain; Rio de Janeiro; Junta Arenas and Valparaiso, Chile; Callao, Peru; San Diego and San Francisco; Honolulu; Auckland; Sydney; Tokyo; Manila; Amoy, China; Hong Kong; Manila; Columbo; Suez and Port Said; Smyrna; and Gibraltar before returning home 22 February 1909.

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