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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo #  NH 54332:  Lithograph of the steamship Eagle, 1861


Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

Eagle (Steamship, 1861);
Originally SS John P. King; later USS Rhode Island (1861-1867) and SS Charleston

Eagle, a 1517-ton side-wheel steamship, was launched in September 1860 at New York City under the name John P. King. She was badly damaged by fire in December 1860, following her first trials, but was rebuilt and renamed Eagle. The U.S. Navy acquired her in June 1861 and commissioned her the next month as USS Rhode Island. Sold out of Naval service in October 1867, she was subsequently employed as a merchant steamer, under the name Charleston, until about 1885.

This page features our only views of the steamship Eagle, originally named John P. King and later named Charleston.

For pictures of this ship while she was in U.S. Navy service, see:

  • USS Rhode Island (1861-1867).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 54332

    Steamship Eagle
    (Launched 1860)

    Lithograph published circa 1861. Eagle was taken over by the U.S. Navy in June of that year and became USS Rhode Island.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 425 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 63856

    Steamship Charleston
    (Launched 1860)

    Watercolor by Erik Heyl, 1947, painted for use in his book "Early American Steamers", Volume I.
    Originally built as the steamship John P. King, she was badly damaged by fire in December 1860, after trials. Rebuilt and renamed Eagle, she was taken over by the U.S. Navy in June 1861 and served as USS Rhode Island until sold in October 1867. She was subsequently the civilian steamer Charleston.

    Courtesy of Erik Heyl.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 385 pixels

     

    For pictures of this ship while she was in U.S. Navy service, see:

  • USS Rhode Island (1861-1867).


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 6 April 2001