The USS Olympia is currently anchored on the Delaware River as part of Philadelphia's Independence Seaport Museum. But it has ties to Northern California.

"The Olympia was built in San Francisco and she spent the first three years of her life basically operating out of Mare Island."

Dennis Kelly is with the Navy Yard Association - a group of former naval shipyard workers at Vallejo's Mare Island.

The Seaport Museum says it can't afford to dry dock the ship anymore. So Kelly and his group plan to apply for the vessel when bidding for the ship is opened next month.

"Our vision is to acquire the ship to make it available for public viewing."

Kelly says the group will need to raise about $20 million to repair the ship's hull and deck and to move it to Northern California. If all goes as planned, the Olympia could be anchored in either Vallejo or San Francisco in 2013.