Cuban Friendship Urn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cuban Friendship Urn
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 Location in Central Washington, D.C.
Location in the District of Columbia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Washington, D.C. |
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| MPS | Memorials in Washington, D.C. |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001053 |
| Added to NRHP | October 11, 2007 |
The Cuban Friendship Urn is a special marble statue located in Washington, D.C.. It is also known as the Cuban–American Friendship Urn or the USS Maine Memorial. This monument is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site. The urn was first placed in Cuba. It was there to honor American sailors who died on the USS Maine ship in 1898 during the Spanish–American War.
Contents
What the Urn Looks Like and Where It Is
The Cuban Friendship Urn is located in East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. You can find it on Ohio Drive, near the Tidal Basin. It is also close to the 14th Street Bridge.
Details of the Urn's Design
The urn is about 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall. It has beautiful carvings and decorations. You can see an eagle with its wings spread wide. There are also human figures carved in a neoclassical style. This style is inspired by ancient Greek and Roman art.
Why the Urn Was Made
The urn used to stand on a tall marble column in Havana, Cuba. It was placed there to remember the U.S. sailors and Marines. They lost their lives when the USS Maine sank in Havana harbor in 1898. The urn also celebrated the friendship between Cuba and the United States. A message in Spanish is carved on the urn. In English, it says:
The memory of the Maine will last forever through the centuries as will the bonds of friendship between the homeland of Cuba and the homeland of the United States of North America. —Gerardo Machado
The Urn's Journey Through History
In October 1926, a strong hurricane hit Cuba. This storm knocked over the marble column where the urn stood. Two years later, in 1928, the urn was sent to the United States. Cuban President Gerardo Machado gave it to U.S. President Calvin Coolidge.
Where the Urn Was Placed in the U.S.
Some people say the urn stood outside the Cuban Embassy in Washington for many years. Later, it disappeared from public view. It might have been taken by people who disliked foreigners. Or it might have been moved for a construction project.
The Urn's Rediscovery
According to the National Park Service, the urn was first placed in a rose garden in West Potomac Park in 1928. It stayed there until the 1940s. Then, it was moved for the building of the 14th Street Bridge. In 1963, it was reportedly in storage.
A publication from the National Park Service in 2009 said the urn was found in one of their warehouses in 1992. It was then moved to its current location. However, a local newspaper, The Washington City Paper, reported something different in 1996. They said the Park Service found the urn "lying on its side" in Rock Creek Park. The newspaper later reported that the urn was placed in East Potomac Park in 1998. This happened after it was repaired, which cost $11,000.
In 2007, the urn was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. It has been called one of the "10 monuments you’ve probably never heard of" in the Washington, D.C., area.
See also
In Spanish: Urna de la Amistad Cubana para niños
