OREGON

a United States battleship, built of iron, that became famous during the Spanish-American War (1898). In 1898, at the outbreak of the war, the ship was ordered to join the American squadron blockading Havana, Cuba from the Spanish. The Oregon made a hasty voyage from San Francisco around South America, via Cape Horn-a trip of nearly 15,000 miles (24,139 km), taking two months. It arrived in time to participate in the blockade and was largely responsible for the destruction of the Spanish fleet shortly thereafter.