Chicago's very own battleship [incl column by Cecil]

Factual Questions
1

Whodathunkit?: Battleship Illinois (replica) - Wikipedia

2

Unimpressive, semi-non link, dude.

3

Maybe you meant this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battleship_Illinois_(replica)

4

There it is - thank you, TubaDiva. Looks like I was missing the closing parenthesis.

5

Well, we did have not one, but two aircradt carriers operating out of Chicago during WW@.

Steam-powered, paddle-wheelers, to boot.

6

Right you are:

7

Congrats, Elendil’s Heir, Cecil has taken this up his very own self:
http://chicago.straightdope.com/sdc20100422.php