Seaport Museum Starts Application Process For Cruiser Olympia

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Cruiser Olympia is looking for a new owner, and the process started today.

The Independent Seaport Museum has started the Transfer Application Process for the historic Olympia. The vessel which made it's debut in the Spanish-American War, needs an estimated $10-to-20 million in renovations.

"We're calling it a sharing process to preserve history. We would like to transfer stewardship of the Olympia to another responsible party," said Captain John Gazzola, President and CEO of the Seaport Museum.

He says interested parties from Philadelphia and elsewhere have contacted the museum about the process. As for where he would ultimately like the cruiser to call home,

"The Olympia needs to go where she is loved the most and where people want to care for her."

For more on the process, visit the Independence Seaport Museum http://www.phillyseaport.org/

Reported by Kim Glovas, KYW Newsradio