The USS Maine Memorial in Section 24 of Arlington National Cemetery was dedicated this week of February in the year 1915 — seventeen years after the battleship exploded on the night of February 15, 1898 in Havana Harbor, Cuba, killing more than 260 American sailors on board. The Maine had been sent to protect U.S. economic interests in Cuba, where rebels were fighting for independence from colonial Spain. Historians are still unsure what caused the explosion, but outraged Americans, fueled by sensationalist journalism, widely blamed Cuba. The United States declared war against Spain on April 25, 1898, with “Remember the Maine!” a popular pro-war rallying cry. The war was over in less than four months, with Spain surrendering on August 12, 1898. However, the Spanish-American War had enormous historical impact. During the conflict, the United States acquired overseas territories, confirmed its status as the dominant nation in the Western Hemisphere and began a new era as a major world power. Arlington National Cemetery contains more monuments and burial sites related to the Spanish-American War than any other location in the continental United States. The USS Maine Memorial features the actual mast from the ship, with the names of those who died in the explosion inscribed onto its base. The ship’s bell is welded into the door of the base. The remains of 229 sailors are buried near the memorial.

The USS Maine Memorial in Section 24 of Arlington National Cemetery was dedicated this week of February in the year 1915 — seventeen years after the battleship exploded on the night of February 15, 1898 in Havana Harbor, Cuba, killing more than 260 American sailors on board. The Maine had been sent to protect U.S. economic interests in Cuba, where rebels were fighting for independence from colonial Spain. Historians are still unsure what caused the explosion, but outraged Americans, fueled by sensationalist journalism, widely blamed Cuba. The United States declared war against Spain on April 25, 1898, with "Remember the Maine!" a popular pro-war rallying cry. The war was over in less than four months, with Spain surrendering on August 12, 1898. However, the Spanish-American War had enormous historical impact. During the conflict, the United States acquired overseas territories, confirmed its status as the dominant nation in the Western Hemisphere and began a new era as a major world power. Arlington National Cemetery contains more monuments and burial sites related to the Spanish-American War than any other location in the continental United States. The USS Maine Memorial features the actual mast from the ship, with the names of those who died in the explosion inscribed onto its base. The ship's bell is welded into the door of the base. The remains of 229 sailors are buried near the memorial.