Continuing
aft, past the OLYMPIA's bake ovens, the visitor
will find himself entering the staterooms occupied by Commodore
Dewey and Captain Charles Gridley at the
time of the Battle of Manila Bay. The space consists
of three cabins. The central, large space could either serve as one cabin
or, as was the case at the time of Manila Bay, the cabin could be divided
in half by a sliding pocket door, to create a cabin for Admiral Dewey and
a separate cabin for Captain Gridley. The cabin is filled with chestnut
woodwork , which remains because Dewey and Gridley had not ordered it jettisoned.
Each half of the stateroom has its own skylight rising to the superstructure
deck, just aft of the engine hatch.
After the Battle of Manila Bay, descriptions from those who visited
Dewey's cabin commented on the many baskets around the stateroom, which
functioned as filing cabinets holding the many letters of congratulations
and odd gifts. The baskets, with overflowing paper and oddities, seemed
to overwhelm the stateroom, leaving the space appearing quite disorganized.
Aft
of this space, separated from the cabin area by a solid bulkhead are two
staterooms, one for the captain and one for the admiral. Double doors
lead into these spaces. The main battery of the vessel is plainly visible
in these areas also, with two five inch guns in the cabin area - one to
port and one to starboard. Also, both the port and starboard staterooms
also house a five inch gun. In Dewey's portion of the stateroom - the port
side, there is an iron fireplace which is not original to the vessel.
Just forward of the staterooms are the ancillary spaces such as the
Commodore's and Captain's bath, pantries, Commodore Dewey's flag lieutenant's
office, and Captain Gridley's office (recently restored).