Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a lovely US Naval cap! The cap itself is in wonderful condition and still retains its original USS Prairie ship’s talley, crown stiffener and leather sweatband. We normally come across later examples or ones that are incomplete and or unserviceable, making this one a spectacular offering!

Easy to recognize is the more familiar white hat, nicknamed the “Dixie cup hat,” but the distinctive “flat hat” came first, and was standard issue for more than a century.
Records of the Naval Historical Center show that the flat hat was authorized in 1852, was standard throughout the American Civil War, and remained in use long after white headgear – much later given the “Dixie cup hat” appellation – was introduced as an alternative in 1886.

At first, flat hats were made of dark blue wool known as Metcalf serge. If the skipper permitted, a white cover could be attached to the top of the hat to protect the wearer from sunlight during periods of warm weather. After white hats were added to the Navy issue, many sailors received both flat hats and white hats. The choice between the two depended upon the whim of skippers at sea and shore-based commanders.

Prior to the U. S. entry into World War II, most flat hats, but not all, had unit or ship names embroidered on the front. This practice was ended in January 1941 to make it more difficult for potential adversaries to learn the whereabouts of U.S. ships. Thereafter, flat hats were embroidered with the legend “U.S. Navy.”

In the 1950s and 1960s, the hats were still a part of Navy attire, but were rarely seen.

This flat hat is in lovely condition and features a tally that bears the name of the ship, the U.S.S. Prairie. The once gold lettering is now darkened to a lovely gray patina but is still easily recognizable.

There is wear present on the cap, but nothing too extensive or damaging. The crown stiffener is still solid and has not worn through the heavy blue wool. The lining is still intact and even still has the leather sweatband.

This is truly a wonderful example of the legendary US Navy “Flat Hat”. A welcomed addition to any Naval collections. Comes more than ready for display!

Prairie was converted into an auxiliary cruiser and assigned at first to the Northern Patrol Squadron and later to the North Atlantic Fleet. During the Spanish–American War, she served in Cuban waters July and August 1898. On 25 August she stranded in dense fog 3 miles east of the Amagansett, New York Life saving Station. The United States Life Saving Service ferried 216 troops to shore. She was pulled off the next day by the tug Brittania.[1] She returned to Fore River, Massachusetts on 28 August. She decommissioned on 15 March 1899 at Philadelphia.

Prairie was placed in reserve commission on 23 March 1899 and cruised with the naval militia off the Atlantic coast until she was decommissioned at New York on 18 February 1901. She carried government exhibits to France at the turn of the 20th century for the Paris Exposition. She was recommissioned at Boston on 9 November 1901 as a training ship, and remained with this mission until she was decommissioned at Boston on 14 June 1905.

She was recommissioned 26 September 1906 at Boston as a transport and was attached to the Atlantic Fleet. She protected American interests in Cuba, March to April 1907. Later, she resumed her training duties with the naval militia from May to September 1907, July to August 1908 and July to August 1909.

She took part on the U.S. occupation of Veracruz in 1914, firing her 3-inch guns at the Naval Academy and other tactical targets, on 21 April 1914.

Converted to a destroyer tender in late 1917, Prairie served during World War I.

Prairie was decommissioned for the final time on 22 November 1922 at San Diego, California, and was struck from the Navy List. She was sold on 22 June 1923 to Louis Rothenberg, Oakland, California.