Destruction of USS Maine and the Rush Toward War
The Spanish-American War (21 April–13 August 1898) was a turning point in United States history, signaling the country’s emergence as a world power. The sinking of the battleship USS Maine in Havana...
View ArticleUSS Oregon (BB-3) Begins Her “Dash” Around South America, 19 March 1898
USS Oregon (BB-3) was commissioned in San Francisco, California, in 1896, and was serving on the West Coast in 1898 when she was ordered to the Atlantic for service in the impending Spanish-American...
View ArticleBattle of Manila Bay
May 1st, 1898 Commodore George Dewey wins the Battle of Manila Bay Official Battle Report as published in Proceedings The Battle of Manila Bay marked the first major victory in the Spanish-American...
View ArticleJuly 3rd, 1898: Remembering the Battle of Santiago
On this date in 1898, Rear Admiral William T. Sampson’s squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Santiago, Cuba. The article Sampson and Shafter at Santiago, by Commander Louis J....
View Article“The Fastest Ship in the Navy”: The Strange Saga of the USS Reina Mercedes
On April 29, 1898, Almirante (Admiral) Pascual Cervera y Topete of the Spanish Navy steamed out of Cape Verde islands with a fleet of four armored cruisers and three destroyers. His destination: the...
View ArticleWood That it Were
The ramifications of a battle can extend far beyond its immediate impact on the conflict at hand. Sometimes, the greatest impacts are on the technology and tactics of war-fighting. Such was the case of...
View ArticleThe Log of the Cristóbal Colón
A year before the U. S. Naval Institute would publish its very first book, Lieutenant-Commander (and enthusiastic Naval Institute member) Richard Wainwright’s Log of the U. S. Gunboat Gloucester, the...
View ArticleRemember the MAINE
Apprentice First Class Ambrose Ham was signal boy of the watch when the USS MAINE arrived at the Spanish-owned island of Cuba on 25 January 1898. Tensions were high in the battleship as she slowly...
View ArticleRichard Wainwright: USS Maine survivor & supporter of the Naval Institute
When the USS Maine exploded 120 years ago on February 15, 1898, Lieutenant Commander Richard Wainwright, one of the Naval Institute’s staunchest supporters, was the Maine’s executive officer....
View ArticleCitizen Soldiers
It’s time to celebrate civilians and the contributions they made to the American war effort! 1. Clarissa “Clara” Harlowe Barton (Civil War) “I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and...
View ArticleU.S. Revenue Marine to Coast Guard (1790-1915)
As George Washington left his retreat in Mount Vernon to enter the office of the presidency, the newly established United States faced a myriad of issues. A new government was formed, and the people...
View ArticleTheodore Roosevelt, Naval Expansion, and Guaranteeing Peace
In 1897, William McKinley was inaugurated as 25th President of the United States. As an advocate of tariffs and protectionist policies, McKinley believed in supporting U.S. interests in Cuba and around...
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