Memorials and Monuments

Beginning shortly after the Spanish-Cuban-American War American engineers preserved some of the trenches, built several monuments, and placed some artillery pieces there for commemorative purposes. The United Spanish War Veterans held their 30th reunion in Cuba in 1928 and additional memorials were placed at that time. The site of the Spanish surrender, a large tree located between the American and Spanish lines, was set aside as a memorial very early, and in 1958 was placed under the control of the American Battle Monuments Commission (the group charged with maintaining American graves and monuments of World Wars I and II and other wars).

Few Americans have had the opportunity to visit the memorials and sites of the Spanish-American War in Cuba since relations became strained and travel restrictions were placed on U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba by the U.S. government in 1963.  The Cuban government maintains these sites for recreation and tourism purposes and they are in good condition, and are well kept. There is also a fine museum dedicated to the story of the Spanish-Cuban-American War located not far from the U.S. landing site at Siboney. This museum houses artifacts related to the war including items salvaged from the sunken Spanish fleet that was destroyed by Admiral William T. Sampson's blockading squadron.

Images of Memorials and Monuments