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Reception for the American Fleet at Auckland, New Zealand, 9th August 1908
Reception for the American Fleet at Auckland, New Zealand, 9th August 1908

Reception for the American Fleet at Auckland, New Zealand, 9th August 1908

Date1908
Object number00015014
NamePostcard
Mediumcoloured offset photographic print on paper.
DimensionsOverall: 138 x 90 mm
ClassificationsPosters and postcards
Credit LineANMM Collection Purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionThis postcard features a hand coloured photographic image of the reception held to welcome the American Fleet at Auckland, New Zealand. The postcard was produced to commemorate the peace time world tour of the American Great White Fleet in 1908.HistoryIn December 1907 United States President Theodore Roosevelt sent the US Atlantic Battle Fleet of 16 battleships on a 14 month goodwill cruise around the world. The fleet was a chance for the Navy to practice seamanship and express America's world power. Roosevelt was also concerned about rising Japanese aggression and their expansionist foreign policy. The cruise would be a political and public relations exercise to build domestic support for more naval construction. Led by the flagship, USS CONNECTICUT, the Great White Fleet as it became known, consisted of 16 battleships painted white, as was the practice of all US Navy ships in times of peace. The ships sailed in four divisions of four ships each. Early in the voyage the order of the ships was altered to allow the best-looking vessels to be at the front of the fleet. The cruise incorporated six continents, 26 countries and 32 ports with 614 officers and 13,504 crew. It consumed 435,000 tons of coal, more than any other naval expedition and was the largest fleet to ever accomplish a circumnavigation of the globe.SignificancePrinted ephemera captures a moment in time and in this case it represents the enormous impact of the Great White Fleet world tour in 1908.