Today in History: U.S.S. Maine Sunk

USS Maine

Today in History–February 15–the Library of Congress features the Spanish-American War, sparked on this date in 1898 when an explosion sank the battleship U.S.S. Maine in the Havana, Cuba harbor, killing 266 of the 354 crew members. Two months later, President William McKinley announced a state of war with Spain on April 25, 1898. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to learn even more from primary sources.

U.S.S. Maine images

Panoramic images of the wreck of the U.S.S. Maine

Wreck of the battleship “Maine” 1898 film

“Remember the ‘Maine'” Written by Arthur H. MacOwen for the occasion of the benefit performance given at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia, on Friday, March 11th, 1898, in aid of the survivors from the blowing up of the U. S. S. ‘Maine” sheet music

The Battle of Manila. The Destruction of the Spanish Fleet Described by Eye-Witnesses. I. NarrativeThe Century: A Popular Quarterly Volume 56, Issue 4, Aug. 1898

Selected newspaper articles related to the Sinking of the Maine (includes brief timeline & search strategies)

The mystery of the Maine; an examination of public documents relating to the destruction of the U.S.S Maine 1912

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