Mast of the U.S.S. Maine

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History

In 1898, the United States felt that Spanish control of Cuba was unsafe. In the hopes of stabilizing the colony and promoting peace, the United States Navy ordered the U.S.S. Maine to Havana Harbor. The United States also thought that if it became necessary, they could evacuate American citizens from the island. Spain was given eighteen hours notice before Captain Charles Dwight Sigsbee and his crew of 355 men arrived in Cuba on Janurary 25, 1898.

Everything ran smoothly until Feburary 15, 1898, when an explosion tore apart the ship. Captain Sigsbee was the last one off the ship once all the survivors had been evacuated onto the rescue boats. He reported the incident:

"MAINE blown up in Havana Harbor at nine-forty
tonight and destroyed. Many wounded and
doubtless more killed or drowned. Wounded
and others on board Spanish Man-of-War
and Ward Line Steamer, Send Light House Tender from
Key West for crew and a few pieces of equipment
above water. No one had clothing other than that
upon him. Public opinion should be suspended
until further notice." *****(Source:ANC's Historian's Office)

The USA was on the brink of a war with Spain because of the incident. People blamed Spain, although the cause of the explosion was never determined. "Remember the Maine, the hell with Spain," was the common cry.

Two hundred and fifty-one men and two officers were killed and were initially buried at Colon Cemetery in Havana, Cuba. On March 30, 1898, an Act of Congress authorized the disinterment and transfer of the bodies to Arlington National Cemetery. However, since war with Spain began on April 24, 1898, it was impossible to reinter the dead until the next year. On December 28, 1899, one hundred and sixty-five men (only 63 of whom were known) were buried at the cemetery with full military honors.

On May 9, 1910, another Act of Congress made it possible to raise the remains of the Maine and to remove the mast and place it at Arlington National Cemetery . It took two years to raise the ship, and when the mast was removed, the shell of the Maine was taken out to sea and scuttled in water 600 fathoms deep.

The dedication ceremony for the Mast of the U.S.S. Maine took place on Feburary 15, 1915.

During World War II, the vault of the monument served as the temporary burial site for those allied leaders who died in the United States while their lands were being occupied. In 1941, Ignace Paderewski, the exiled president of Poland, died and was buried here. In 1944, Manuel Quezon y Molina, President of the Philippines, was buried here while his country was occupied by the Japanese.

Description

The U.S.S. Maine was dedicated on Feburary 15, 1915. The monument, which was designed by the Norcross Builders Company from Worchester, Massacheusetts, cost $56,147.94.

The base of the monument represents the turret of a battleship. Written along the sides of the turret are all of the names of the men who died as a result of the explosion. The mast of the U.S.S. Maine runs straight through the turret. The doorway on the North side of the turret is made of bronze with half of a ship's bell on the top of the door. To the side of it are two urns.

One the side of the monument are an anchor and two bronze cannons that were captured from Spain during the war. The anchor is not the acutal anchor from the Maine, but a replica donated by The Boston Navy Yard.

Inscription

on turret:

(There are two bold relief wreaths of either side of this inscription)
on ship's bell atop the door:

on anchor:

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