State Historical Society of Iowa

USS Iowa Silver Service Exhibit Text

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Table of Contents

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Section 1: Silver Service

Section 2: The Ships Named Iowa

Section 3: USS Iowa Medal of Honor Recipients

Section 1: Silver Service

A Service of Silver: Tribute to the USS Iowa

In 1896 Iowa celebrated 50 years of statehood and the nation honored the state by naming its first sea-going battleship the USS Iowa. The 26th General Assembly responded by authorizing the Executive Council to “provide a proper recognition of the battleship USS Iowa” and appropriated $5,000. The firm of J.E. Caldwell and Co. in Philadelphia was contracted to provide a 40-piece silver service.

First USS Iowa battleship
Black and white engraving of the first USS Iowa battleship at sea. This profile view shows two smokestacks at the center of the ship. Ahead of the forward smokestack is a conical foremast with a spotting top (upper) and fighting top (lower). Engraved by G. A. Avery. Printed in Scientific American in 1898.

High resolution image of the first USS Iowa battleship

USS Iowa Silver Service

The silver has served on the USS Iowa BB4 (1897-1923), the USS Iowa BB61 (1947-1949; 1953-1958; and 1984-1990), and on the cruiser USS Des Moines CA 134 (1948-1953). During the period 1990-1992, the silver service was placed on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

The silver service was contracted to contain over 2,100 troy ounces of sterling silver, about 145 pounds.

“Illustrations of The Silver Dinner Service presented to The United States Battle-ship Iowa by The State of Iowa,” James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

Water Pitcher

In the final design of the water pitcher, an etching of the “Pioneer” statue, from the west steps of the Capitol, replaced a view of the Capitol.

The “Pioneer” statuary was designed by Karl Gerhardt in 1892.

Contract weight: 4¼ pounds.

Final silver water pitcher design
On the front of the water pitcher, below the spout, is an etching of the “Pioneer Statuary Group.” The statue is currently located on the Iowa Capitol Complex in Des Moines and is a bronze sculpture of a pioneer and his son standing next to a seated Native American man. Below the etching is a three dimensional bald eagle spreading its wings above ears of corn that frame the top and sides of the Great Seal of the State of Iowa. Photograph by Chuck Greiner.

High resolution photograph of the water pitcher

Original water pitcher design
Drawing of the original water pitcher design. On the side of the water pitcher is an etching of the west side of the Iowa State Capitol building. The etching features a water fountain, a long series of steps leading to a portico of six columns, the large central dome on top, and four smaller domes on top of each corner of the building. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of the water pitcher design

After Dinner Coffee Set 1

Each of the three pieces of the coffee set bears the Great Seal of the State of Iowa.

Contract weight: 4¼ pounds.

After dinner coffee set
Profile drawing of the after dinner coffee set with a pitcher and two containers for cream and sugar, each featuring the Great Seal of the State of Iowa. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of the after dinner coffee set

After Dinner Coffee Set 2

Each of the three pieces of the coffee set bears the Great Seal of the State of Iowa.

Contact weight: 4¼ pounds.

Bread and Entrée Dishes

The bread and entrée dishes carry a similar design of wild roses and eagles with spread wings holding ears of corn. The seals of Iowa and the Navy Department appear beneath the eagles.

Contract weight: 3⅓ pounds.

Bread tray and entree dish
Drawing of an entrée dish from above featuring eagle and corn motifs at two ends and Wild Roses on the two sides. Profiles of an entrée dish and bread tray below show that the entrée dishes were more shallow than the bread trays. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of the bread tray and entrée dish

Bon-Bon or Olive Trays

The four small bon-bon or olive trays continue the eagle and rose motif of the larger bread dishes including the seals of Iowa and the Navy Department.

Contract weight: 1¼ pounds.

Centerpiece

The centerpiece dominates the silver service with its size and design. Weighing nearly 30 pounds, it is composed of three parts: a flower vase, candelabra, and a shallow fruit bowl. The vase is framed in ears of corn with a central medallion of the Great Seal of the State of Iowa. The reverse side is inscribed: “Presented to the Battle-ship Iowa by the State of Iowa, July 19th, 1897.”

The removable candelabra holds celluloid candles and is topped with red cloth shades protected by isinglass and overlaid with silver filigree.

The bowl is decorated with dolphins, eagles, and etchings of the State Capitol, the USS Iowa, early Fort Madison, and a pioneer wagon.

Centerpiece
A view of the centerpiece from the side with six of the ten candelabras visible. In the center is a flower vase with the Great Seal of the State of Iowa. The lower section is a fruit bowl with etchings of the Iowa State Capitol building and the USS Iowa. Around the base of the centerpiece are six three-dimensional eagles with spread wings holding three arrows on the right and possibly an olive branch on the left as is referenced on the Great Seal of the United States. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of the centerpiece

Comports

The eagle and corn motif dominates the four comports.

Contract weight: 1¾ pounds.

Comport dish
Profile view of a comport dish—a shallow, rimmed bowl sitting on a pedestal base. The bowl of the comport features an eagle with wings spread over six ears of corn, three ears are below the right wing and three ears are below the left wing. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of a comport

Single Vegetable Dish

The single vegetable dish with cover continues the eagle and seal motif.

Contract weight: 5 pounds.

Single vegetable dish
Profile of a single vegetable dish with a lid. The side of the vegetable dish features an eagle with wings spread over six ears of corn, three under the right wing and three under the left, and leaves that frame the Great Seal of the State of Iowa. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of a single vegetable dish

The Great Seal of the State of Iowa
Black and white illustration of The Great Seal of the State of Iowa. The seal’s imagery features a citizen soldier holding an American flag. On top of the flagpole is a liberty cap, symbol of the American Revolution. Above the soldier is a bald eagle holding in its beak a flowing ribbon that reads, “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.” The background features various Iowa motifs, including a bundle of wheat and farm plow to represent agriculture, a building with a lead furnace and a stack of lead to represent lead mining, the Mississippi River, and the Steamboat Iowa. Around the outside of the imagery is text that reads “The Great Seal of the State of Iowa.”

High resolution image of The Great Seal of the State of Iowa

Double Vegetable Dish

The double vegetable dish with cover is the least decorated piece in the service.

Contract weight: 3½ pounds.

Double vegetable dish
Profile of the double vegetable dish with a decorative handle. The cover shows a motif of ears of corn that is not featured in the final design. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of a double vegetable dish

Salver

The 13-inch round waiter carries the standard service motif: eagles, roses, and the seals of Iowa and the Navy Department.

Contract weight: 2¾ pounds.

Salver
Drawing of the salver from above and in profile. The salver features the same motif on two sides: an eagle, six ears of corn and an acanthus scroll design above a circle. The circle represents where the state seal is on the final piece. The other two sides of the salver feature the state flower, the Wild Rose. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of the salver

Butter Dishes

The two butter dishes are smaller and deeper than the bon-bon trays but carry a similar design.

Soup Tureen

On the large soup tureen a bald eagle spreads its wings above ears of corn and over the Great Seal of the State of Iowa. Large scallop shells combine to provide a base.

Contract weight: 9 pounds.

Soup tureen
Profile drawing of the soup tureen featuring the state seal. Above the seal is an eagle with three ears of corn under each wing. The two handles are decorated with acanthus scrolls that mimic ocean waves, possibly in reference to the Navy. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of the soup tureen

Salad Bowl with Spoon and Fork

Although slightly smaller, the salad bowl is similar to the soup tureen in form and style.

The servers display Iowa’s seal, corn, and the wild rose.

Contract weight: 8 pounds.

Salad bowl with spoon and fork
Profile drawing of the salad bowl accompanied by the spoon and fork. The salad bowl features the state seal. Above the seal is an eagle with three ears of corn under each wing. A decorative base is created with an acanthus scroll that mimics ocean wave and scallop themes of the Navy. The handles of the spoon and fork feature Wild Roses, ears of corn, and the state seal. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of the salad bowl, spoon and fork

Meat Dish and Gravy Boats

The large meat tray is embellished with bald eagles, corn, wild roses, the Great Seal of Iowa, and the Navy Department seal.

It is inscribed: “Iowa, her affections like the rivers of her borders, flow to an inseparable union.” The inscription is attributed to Enoch W. Eastman.

Gravy boats bear the Great Seal of the State of Iowa.

Meat Dish Contract weight: 5 pounds.
Gravy Boat Contract weight: 1⅓ pounds.

Meat dish
Drawing of the meat dish from above with a side view below. The meat dish has an eagle with three ears of corn under each wing at each end and Wild Roses on the two sides. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of the meat dish

Gravy boat
Profile drawing of the gravy boat. On the side, an acanthus scroll frames the top and sides of the state seal. A decorative base is created with an acanthus scroll that mimics ocean wave and scallop themes of the Navy. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of the gravy boat

Fish Dish with Knife and Fork

The fish dish follows the motif of the meat dish with the addition of a serving knife and fork in wild rose and corn motif.

It is inscribed: “In all that’s good, Iowa affords the best.” The inscription is attributed to Sidney A. Foster. 

Contract weight: 5½ pounds.

Fish dish, knife and fork
Drawing of the fish dish from above with the knife and fork. Two ends of the dish feature an eagle with three ears of corn under each wing motif framing a circle where the state seal is on the final design. The sides of the dish feature the Wild Rose. The wild rose, corn, and a circle for the state seal create handles for the knife and fork. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of the fish dish, knife and fork

Punch Bowl Set

The three-piece punch bowl set continues the eagle and seal motif of the other major bowls, with the addition of a ladle topped by an eagle. The base is separate.

Contract weight: 20 pounds.

Punch bowl set
Profile drawing of the punch bowl sitting on a decorative base. The front of the bowl features the eagle, corn, and state seal motif. A decorative base is created with an acanthus scroll that mimics ocean wave and scallop themes of the Navy. The ladle is placed in the punch bowl with the handle sticking out to the right. Drawing by James E. Caldwell & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1896.

High resolution image of the punch bowl set

Section 2: The Ships Named Iowa

A Service of Silver: Iowa’s Impact at Sea

The name “Iowa” has a significant history with the United States Navy. Notably the Iowa Battleship Number 4 (BB4), which entered service on June 16, 1897, was the Navy’s first ever sea-going battleship. On the BB4, eight men received Medals of Honor for heroism during boiler accidents in 1898 and 1905. 

The USS Iowa BB61 also made significant contributions during war. The ship carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference in 1943 and it was present in Tokyo Bay when the Second World War ended with Japan’s formal surrender on September 2, 1945. 

A large collection of silver remains from Iowa’s time at sea. Once a widespread custom, the BB4 was presented with a 40-piece silver service — a collection of food and beverage serving vessels used for official ceremonies on the ship. The silver in this exhibit is on long-term loan from the U.S. Navy.

The Ships Named “IOWA”

USS IOWA, 1869-1883

Designed by Benjamin Franklin Delano, this frigate warship was built from 1863 to 1864 at the Boston Navy Shipyards. Its engines were installed in New York in 1867. The cost was $1,261,250, which is equivalent to roughly $30,541,000 in 2023.

Originally designed as a fast commerce raider, the ship carried an armament of 10 smoothbores nine inches in diameter, three 60-pounder rifles, and two 24-pounder smoothbores. 

Nearing completion about nine months before the Civil War’s end, the ship never saw service. In the 1868 time trials, the ship sustained speeds over 17 knots (19.5 mph) and at that time was the fastest ship in the United States Navy.

With no war to fight or other relevant mission, the ship returned to the Boston Navy Shipyards in 1868, where the name was changed from the USS Ammonoosuc to the USS Iowa in May 1869. It was sold in 1883.

Did you know?

“Ammonoosuc,” the original name of the USS Iowa until 1869, means a “stony place for fishing” in the Abenaki language. The Abenaki peoples are native to the Northeastern Woodlands of North America and fished along the Ammonoosuc River in northern New Hampshire.

First USS Iowa
Rendering of the first USS Iowa at sea by Paul Bender in 1986. The ship had four smokestacks and three fighting topmasts. The smokestacks are arranged as two pairs, one set is in the middle toward the front, and the other pair is toward the back. One topmast is ahead of the front smokestacks, another is ahead of the rear smokestacks, and the third is near the stern.

High resolution image of the first USS Iowa

USS IOWA BB4, 1897-1923

Congress authorized the construction of the USS Iowa BB4 in 1892. The ship was built by William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it was launched on March 28, 1896. Mary Lora Drake, daughter of Iowa’s governor Francis M. Drake, christened the ship on June 16, 1897.

The ship reportedly carried 512 men and could sustain a speed of 17 knots (19.5 mph). Armament consisted of four 12-inch rifles, eight 8-inch rifles, and numerous smaller guns. In 1892 the ship cost $3,110,000, which is equivalent to roughly $107,626,000 in 2023.

During the Spanish-American War, the USS Iowa assisted in the destruction of the Spanish fleet at Santiago de Cuba. In this instance, the Iowa’s crew proved to be both effective in battle and compassionate in the rescue of Spanish sailors and officers from their stricken vessels.

As the First World War approached, larger and more powerful ships soon overshadowed the USS Iowa and it became outdated. With the outbreak of war, the ship was relegated to training and coastal defense. In 1923 the USS Iowa sank while serving as a radio-controlled target vessel.

USS Iowa BB4
Profile painting of the USS Iowa BB4 at sea by Finllyson in 1898. This profile view shows the ship had two smokestacks at the center of the ship. Ahead of the forward smokestack is a conical foremast with a spotting top (upper) and fighting top (lower). Image courtesy of William Cramp Scheetz.

High resolution image of the USS Iowa BB4

Model of USS Iowa BB4

This shipbuilder’s model of the USS Iowa was made in 1902 at the William Cramp & Sons Shipyard at a cost of $2,500.

USS Iowa view from the bridge
Black and white photograph of the USS Iowa. View aft from the bridge showing three lifeboats in stowage, boat cranes, after smoke pipe, eight-inch turret and searchlights. Image from the State Historical Society of Iowa, Special Collections.

High resolution photograph of USS Iowa from the bridge

USS Iowa 1897 speed trial
Black and white photograph of the USS Iowa at the April 7, 1897 speed trial. The majority of the crew is visible on the deck as water splashes up the bow and leaves a turbulent wake at its stern. Black smoke pours from the rear smokestack and a light gray trail of smoke is emitted from the forward smokestack on the right. The course was from Cape Ann, Massachusetts to Cape Porpoise, Maine. Speed 17.087 knots (19.66 mph). Indicated horsepower of 12,105. Image from the State Historical Society of Iowa, Special Collections.

High resolution photograph of the USS Iowa 1897 speed trial

USS Iowa BB4’s main deck
View from the stern of the USS Iowa BB4’s main deck, showing 12- and 8-inch turrets. It shows two 12-inch guns and four 8-inch guns. On the left, the ship’s crew stands at attention wearing all white. Photograph taken on July 3, 1897.

High resolution photograph of the USS Iowa BB4's main deck

Did you know?

From 1888 to 1947, the U.S. Navy built 59 battleships. The Navy planned 20 more ships, but never finished them. The USS Iowa BB4 was the first battleship bearing the name “Iowa” and was assigned a “BB” series number when hull numbers were created in 1920. Other common classifications are “DD” for destroyer, “CA” for cruiser, and “CV” for aircraft carrier.

USS IOWA BB53, 1920-1923

Construction of the USS Iowa BB53 began by the Virginia-based News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company in 1920, but with over 30 percent of the BB53 completed, the Navy halted the project in 1923. In accordance with the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, the Navy scrapped the Iowa BB53 and five other South Dakota class ships.

The ship was designed to carry an armament of twelve 16-inch guns, three in each of four turrets, sixteen 6-inch guns, eight on each side of the ship, and to reach a speed of 23 knots (26.5 mph).

USS Iowa BB53
Painting of the USS Iowa BB53 by Rose Stokes in 1922. The ship features two caged masts. The bow is shown in the middle right of the artwork.

High resolution image of the USS Iowa BB53

USS IOWA BB61, 1943-1990

The USS Iowa BB61 was the last ship to bear the name “Iowa.” It inaugurated a new class of battleships called the “Iowa-class,” less heavily armored and with fewer guns, but with greater shooting accuracy. The ship could reach speeds of up to 33 knots (38 mph). The main armament consisted of nine 16-inch guns and numerous smaller caliber weapons. In the Second World War, it carried 2,637 enlisted men and 151 officers.  

The USS Iowa BB61 was completed at the New York Shipyards and christened by Ilo Browne Wallace, wife of Vice-President Henry A. Wallace, both Iowa natives. The ship entered service in 1943. The cost was $110,000,000, which is equivalent to roughly $1.94 billion in 2023.

During the Second World War, the BB61 carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Tehran Conference in Iran where he discussed military strategy with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin. Upon its return, the BB61 moved to the Pacific Theater and supported many of the operations leading to the final surrender of Japan.

After a short period in the “mothball fleet,” a group of reserved ships ready for battle, the Iowa supported United Nations forces during the Korean Conflict. In this role the ship fired twice the number of 16-inch shells as it had during the Second World War.

The ship was decommissioned by the Navy in 1958, only to be recalled and refitted in 1982 with Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles. In 1989 the ship added an additional 16 Harpoon and 32 Tomahawk missiles at a cost of $385 million. On April 19,1989, an explosion in one of the 16-inch turrets killed 47 crewmen. The ship was still deployed to Europe and the Mediterranean Sea until it was decommissioned in October 1990.

USS Iowa BB61 firing guns
Photograph of the USS Iowa BB61 with large explosions from firing guns behind the foremast. Image courtesy of the United States Navy.

High resolution photograph of the USS Iowa BB61 firing guns

Online Tour of the USS Iowa BB61

Today the USS Iowa BB61 is berthed at Los Angeles, California, at the Battleship USS Iowa Museum. The ship is open to the public both in-person and online. Explore an immersive online tour of the USS Iowa BB61.

Additional Images of the USS Iowa Ships Online

More historic photographs of the USS Iowa BB4, BB53 and BB61 can be viewed on the Naval History and Heritage Command website.

Section 3: USS Iowa Medal of Honor Recipients

USS Iowa Medal of Honor Recipients

The Navy’s Medal of Honor

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal of Honor is the oldest and highest military decoration in the United States. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles created the honor on December 16, 1861. Only enlisted men were eligible for the award until naval officers became eligible in 1915.

The design and award criteria for the medal have changed since it was created. Today the medal is awarded for acts of bravery and heroism at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty.

In the late 19th century, crews of steam-powered warships had to be prepared for boiler explosions and high pressure steam leaks from broken gaskets. On two occasions, the Iowa’s safety was threatened by boiler accidents. In both instances, the vessel was saved by the action of a few crew members. Their bravery was recognized with Medals of Honor.

Medal of Honor
Engraving of the Navy’s Medal of Honor with a design inspired by the Civil War. The central image references the division of the nation by featuring Columbia, a female figure used to represent the United States and here embodied by the goddess Minerva, uses the shield of the republic to defeat the cowering figure of Discord. This allegory is encircled by 34 stars, each star representing a state belonging to the Union at the time of the outbreak of the Civil War.

High resolution image of the Medal of Honor

July 20, 1898

On July 20, 1898, a boiler gasket in the fire room burst on the USS Iowa BB4. The weakened boiler soon filled the room with boiling water and steam. Fearing an explosion, Robert Penn and Philip B. Keefer rushed into the room, saved an injured seaman, and extinguished the boiler fires. For their daring actions, they each received the Medal of Honor.

Robert Penn and Philip B. Keefer extinguishing the 1898 boiler fire
Drawing of Robert Penn and Philip B. Keefer extinguishing the boiler fire. The door to the boiler is open and steam rushes out of the boiler. Keefer covers his face and leans away, while Penn reaches out to help his crewmate. A caption on the image reads, “An explosion was averted by their quickness.” Image from Deeds and Valor: How American Heroes Won the Medal of Honor, 1906.

High resolution image of the 1898 boiler fire

Coppersmith Philip B. Keefer

Medal of Honor Citation: On board the USS Iowa off Santiago de Cuba, 20 July 1898. Following the blow-out of a manhole gasket of that vessel which caused the fire room to be filled with live steam and the floor plates to be covered with boiling water, Keefer showed courageous and zealous conduct in hauling fires from two furnaces of boiler B.

Fireman 1st Class Robert Penn

Medal of Honor Citation: On board the USS Iowa off Santiago de Cuba, 20 July 1898. Performing his duty at the risk of serious scalding at the time of the blowing out of the manhole gasket on board the vessel, Penn hauled the fire while standing on a board thrown across a coal bucket one foot above the boiling water which was still blowing from the boiler. 

Did you know?

Robert Penn was one of only six African Americans to receive the Medal of Honor during the Spanish-American War and is the last African American sailor to have been awarded the medal for bravery during combat.

Robert Penn
Photographic portrait of Robert Penn wearing a Navy uniform and a Navy-issued flat hat. The caption reads “Second-class Fireman, U.S. Iowa. Born at City Point, Va.” Image from Deeds and Valor: How American Heroes Won the Medal of Honor, 1906.

High resolution image of Robert Penn

January 25, 1905

On January 25, 1905, the following men were each awarded a Medal of Honor for displaying extraordinary heroism following the blowing out of the manhole plate of boiler D of the USS Iowa BB4.

  • Fireman 1st Class Frederick Behne
  • Seaman 1st Class Heinrich Behnke
  • Watertender Patrick Bresnahan
  • Fireman 1st Class Demetri Corahorgi
  • Boilermaker Edward Floyd
  • Chief Watertender Johannes J. Johannessen
USS Iowa crewmen around 1898
Around 1898, 39 crewmen posed on the deck of the USS Iowa around the barrels of the forward turret’s two 12-inch guns. The ship bore two such turrets, one fore and one aft. The foremast base is visible behind the turret.Photograph by William H. Rau. USS Iowa. NH 8. Washington, DC: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy Department.

High resolution photograph of the USS Iowa crewmen around 1898