5 May 1908: Teddy Roosevelt's "Great White Fleet" arrives in San Francisco.

The fleet sailed from Hampton Roads, Va., on 16 Dec. 1907 with the battleship USS Connecticut serving as the flagship carrying RAdm. Robley D. Evans and headed south, around South America, and made for San Francisco--with several port calls along the way.

Upon arrival in San Francisco, RAdm. Charles S. Sperry relieved Evans, who was in poor health.

The purpose of the voyage was to demonstrate to the world what great strides the Americans had made in shipbuilding and tactics since the Civil War.

ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) Teddy Roosevelt's "Great White Fleet" departs from Hampton Roads, Va. (2) The 24-gun battleship USS Connecticut served as flagship for the round-the-world voyage. (3) The Great White Fleet passes through the Straits of Magellan in Feb. 1908. (4) The fleet arrives in San Francisco Bay to much fanfare.