Remember The Maine

Very near The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldiers in Arlington is the mast from the battleship Maine, destroyed in Havana, Cuba, just prior to the Spanish American War. The destruction of this ship in fact precipitated the war, and the rallying cry became "Remember The Maine". The mast is on a pedestal encircled with the names of all the seamen who died in her destruction. This view of the mast is through the Amphitheater at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier.

Above is the anchor and below is one of the guns, both from the USS Maine.

Despite two or more official inquests, the cause of the destruction of the Maine remains unclear. It was either a mine planted by unknown assailants, or ignition of coal dust in an area near the charges used for the onboard armament. At this date, the truth will probably never be known.