Photography by John Michael

It was one hundred ten years ago on February 15, 1898 that the USS Maine exploded and sunk in Havana Harbor, Cuba… originally thought to be the fault of a mine that was laid by the Spanish Navy, no actual conclusion has been verified ’til this day. The incident caused the deaths of 266 of the 354 crew members and ultimately resulted in a naval blockade of Cuba and the declaration of war against Spain – the Spanish American War.

The USS Maine was the first battleship named after the “PINE TREE STATE” and was 319 feet long. It was sent to Cuba to protect the American citizens who were there. On this day, at 2150, the ship exploded and lay devastated in the Havana Harbor.

Those lost in this incident were originally interred in Florida, but later in December 1899, moved to Arlington National Cemetery and re-interred as a memorial – with an anchor from a another ship representing one of the six anchors of the USS Maine. In 1913 a memorial was created that encircled the mainmast of the USS Maine. All the names of the lost were inscribed on the 23 exterior panels of the of the concrete base that was constructed.