On Wednesday, February 15, an online panel of historians and archivists discussed the sinking of the USS Maine, a battleship built between 1888 and 1895, which was sent to Havana in January 1898 to protect American interests during the longstanding revolt of the Cubans against the colonial Spanish government. On the evening of February 15, 1898, the Maine sank when its forward gunpowder magazines exploded. Nearly three-quarters of the battleship's crew died as a result of the explosion. While the cause of this great tragedy is still unsettled, contemporary American popular opinion blamed Spain, and the Spanish-American War followed within a few months.
Panelists included Steve Carney, Arlington National Cemetery; Nate Patch, National Archives; Lyn Rowe, National Archives; David Langbart, National Archives; and John Fahey, Naval History and Heritage Command.
Arlington National Cemetery contains more Spanish-American War monuments and graves than any other site in the continental United States. These include the USS Maine Memorial, which features the mast of the battleship and its bell. Dedicated in 1915, the monument is located on Sigsbee Drive, named after Rear Admiral Charles Dwight Sigsbee, who commanded the vessel at the time of the explosion (and survived). The remains of 165 crew members lay at rest nearby.
• To view the discussion, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRV8t1oAFvU.
• To learn more about the Spanish-American War and its legacy at Arlington National Cemetery, explore our Education Program module: https://education.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Themes/Spanish-American-War.