Battleship Maine Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Battleship Maine Monument
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Davenport Park, Jct. of Main and Cedar Sts., Bangor, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | Kent, Edwin S. |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001187 |
| Added to NRHP | October 8, 1999 |
The Battleship Maine Monument is a special memorial in Davenport Park, Bangor, Maine. It honors the brave soldiers and sailors who served in the Spanish–American War. It also remembers the sad loss of the USS Maine warship. This ship sank because of a big explosion. This event helped start the war.
The monument was put up in 1922. It features parts of the actual USS Maine. These pieces, like the ship's shield and scrolls, were found in the wreckage. The ship sank in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. In 1999, this important memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is the most detailed memorial in Maine for that war and the USS Maine.
Contents
What Does the Monument Look Like?
The Battleship Maine Monument stands on the east side of Davenport Park. This park is in Bangor, south of the city center. You can find it near the corner of Main and Cedar Streets. A path with plants and benches leads to the monument from Main Street.
The monument has a unique triangular shape. Each side is about 12 feet (3.7 meters) long. It sits on a strong granite base. The monument itself is made of large granite blocks. It has a cap that sticks out a little at the top. The whole design looks like the front (or "prow") of a ship.
On the front edge, you can see the real shield and scrolls from the USS Maine. A bronze light standard sits on top of the memorial. It has an eagle at its very top. The granite base has a bronze plaque. This plaque has a message that says:
"To the memory of the soldiers and sailor of the Spanish–American War 1989. Shield and scrolls recovered from wreckage of USS Maine blown up Havana Harbor, Cuba February 15, A.D. 1898. Erected by the city of Bangor, A.D. 1922"
The Story Behind the Monument
The USS Maine Ship
The USS Maine was a powerful armored cruiser. It was a type of warship used by the United States Navy. It was the first US Navy ship named after the state of Maine. In January 1898, the ship was sent to Havana, Cuba. This was to protect Americans during the Cuban War of Independence.
On February 15, 1898, something terrible happened. An explosion on board the ship caused it to sink very quickly. Three-quarters of its crew were lost. The exact cause of the explosion is still debated today. This event made tensions much higher. It directly led to the start of the Spanish–American War.
Building the Memorial
After the ship sank, parts of it were recovered in 1912. Many of these pieces were used in monuments. They became memorials to the war. Bangor's Mayor Flavius O. Beal and Congressman Frank E. Guernsey worked hard. They wanted the city to receive the ship's shield and scrolls. These pieces would be the main part of Bangor's monument.
A group was formed in 1917 to find a spot for the memorial. They chose the Post Office Mall. Design work for the monument began. However, the project slowed down until 1920. That year, a city employee tried to sell the ship's relics for scrap metal. The city managed to get most of them back. This event made people want to finish the monument even more.
A new location was chosen in Davenport Park. Edwin S. Kent, a local architect, created the design. The memorial cost $5,300 to build. It was officially dedicated on October 17, 1922.
Other Maine Memorials
There are other public memorials related to the USS Maine and the war. One of the ship's cannons is at Fort Allen Park in Portland. A recovered projectile (a part of a shell) is in Lewiston. The USS Maine Mast Memorial is located in Arlington National Cemetery. The main national memorial for the Maine is the USS Maine National Monument in New York City.
