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Recollections of War > Records

Spoons commemorating the visit of the U.S. Great White Fleet to Australia in 1908

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1908

Overview

Five spoons commemorating the visit of the U.S. Great White Fleet to Australia in 1908. Two relate to the flagship, U.S.S. Connecticut, two to the U.S.S. Virginia and one to U.S.S. Louisiana.
Each spoon has a depiction of the relevant ship etched into the bowl with the words 'U.S. BATTLE SHIP' above and the name of the ship and its specifications (tonnage and speed in knots) below.
Written vertically on the stem is 'AMERICAN FLEET', above which the front handle depicts an American eagle with wings outstretched above two crossed flags atop the map of North America. Below this is an image of the American President, Theodore Roosevelt. The reverse of the handle has two portraits of U.S. Naval Commanders - Rear-Admiral Evans and Admiral Dewey. The words 'Silver plated' are written on the back of the stem.
There is some wear to the reverse where the silver plating has been rubbed off to reveal the base metal underneath.

Historical information

The Great White Fleet was the name given to the group of United States Navy battleships that completed a journey around the globe from December 16, 1907, to February 22, 1909, by order of President Theodore Roosevelt.
It comprised 16 white-painted battleships divided into two squadrons, along with various small escorts.
The fleet visited three ports in Australia - Sydney, Melbourne and Albany - before departing on the next leg of their journey to Manila.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00877

Item type

Collectibles

Decorative Objects

Domestic Objects

Souvenirs

Themes

War and Conflict

Material

Metal (silver-plated)

Width

32 mm

Height or length

145 mm

Depth

11 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On front of spoon from top to bottom:

"PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT"

"AMERICAN FLEET"

"U.S. BATTLESHIP
16000 TONS. SPEED, 18 KNOTS
USS LOUISIANA"

"U.S. BATTLESHIP
16000 TONS. SPEED, 18 KNOTS
USS CONNECTICUT"

"U.S. BATTLE SHIP
14841 TONS. SPEED, 19 KNOTS
USS VIRGINIA"

On reverse of spoon from top to bottom:

"REAR ADMIRAL
EVANS"

"ADMIRAL
DEWEY"

"SILVER PLATED"

Keywords

American Great White Fleet

Us Naval Fleet Visit 1908

Commemorative

Souvenirs

Spoon

United States Navy

EVENTS & CELEBRATIONS

History - Social

Year

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Historic significance

Scientific or research significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Object’s condition or completeness

Rare or representative

Last modified

Tuesday, 12 May, 2026

Completeness

94

Related Objects

Related Objects

Sibling records

'Great White Fleet' sheet music - 'Life with American Squadron'

'Great White Fleet' sheet music - 'Australia's Welcome to Uncle Sam'

Set of 36 stereoscope cards commemorating the visit of the 'Great White Fleet '

Visit of the American 'Great White Fleet' to Australia 1908 - Postcard 1

Visit of the American 'Great White Fleet' to Australia 1908 - Postcard 2

Great White Fleet postcard - U.S.S. Connecticut, California

Souvenir booklet - '36 Views Illustrative of the American Fleet's visit to Australia, 1908'

Boomerang purchased by Winfield Ira Flanigan in Sydney during visit of Great White Fleet, 1908

Winfield Ira Flanigan - Log of Pacific Cruise on U.S.S. Connecticut - Great White Fleet 1908

Great White Fleet 'State Entertainments' souvenir postcard 1908

Ruby glass 'Souvenir of the American Fleet Albany W.A. 1908'

Ruby glass 'Souvenir of the Visit of the U.S.A. Fleet to Albany 1908'

Recollections of War

Recollections of War

Other items from Recollections of War

Great White Fleet souvenir spoons showing named ships

Great White Fleet souvenir spoons showing named ships

Reverse of Great White Fleet souvenir spoons showing named Naval Officers

Reverse of Great White Fleet souvenir spoons showing named Naval Officers

Close-up of spoon bowl showing U.S. Battleship Louisiana

Close-up of spoon bowl showing U.S. Battleship Louisiana

Close-up of spoon bowl showing U.S. Battleship Connecticut

Close-up of spoon bowl showing U.S. Battleship Connecticut

Close-up of spoon bowl showing U.S. Battleship Virginia

Close-up of spoon bowl showing U.S. Battleship Virginia

Close-up of front of spoon handle

Close-up of front of spoon handle

Close-up of reverse of spoon handle

Close-up of reverse of spoon handle

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