The battleship U.S.S. Massachusetts, BB-2, was built by William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and launched in 1893. She was 586 feet long, had a 69 foot beam and was commissioned on June 10, 1896. 

In March of 1898, at the outbreak of the Spanish American War, she was ordered to join the "Flying Squadron" and participated in the blockade of Cuba. On May 31, she bombarded the forts at the entrance to Santiago de Cuba. She also exchanged fire with the Spanish cruiser, Cristobal Colon, and forced the enemy vessel to retreat into the inner harbor. The Massachusetts also cruised the eastern seaboard and Caribbean as part of the North Atlantic Squadron, and on February 31, 1919, she was decommissioned. On January 6, 1921, batteries from Fort Pickens scuttled the U.S.S. Massachusetts. 

She now rests in 21 feet of water with some of the wreckage poking through the ocean's surface, one mile off Fort Pickens jetties. The Massachusetts is still partially intact, and on calm days when a surge is not present, she makes a good shallow water dive. According to Gene Ferguson, the visibility at this site is often limited, and the current can be quite strong. The current normally flows from west to east.

 

Photo: The U.S.S. Massachusetts was 586 feet long and had a 63 foot beam. Photo courtesy Naval
Photographic Center.
The Massachusetts was scuttled on January 6, 1921. Photo courtesy National Archives.

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