USS Maine Memorial, Wilmington
The U.S.S Maine memorial is a bronze tablet attached to the front façade of the Wilmington City Hall-Thalian Hall. On the right side is a female figure clothed in a robe, wearing a Phrygian cap, carrying a shield, and her right arm outstretched towards a palm branch. The circular shield has the words PATRIOTISM and DEVOTION in a circle of stars surrounding a seal. The seal has the shield of the United States below an eagle clutching arrows in its talons. Below the shield is a laurel branch and an oak leaf branch. In the background of the plaque can be seen the mast and remnants of the sinking Maine. The border is that of twisted rope. Over 1,000 of these tablets were cast and distributed across the United States. Each tablet was individually numbered on the reverse side and measured 12.75 x 17.5 inches. Another example of this tablet can be found at Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina | USS Maine Memorial, Tarboro (unc.edu)
IN MEMORIAM / U.S.S. MAINE / DESTROYED IN HAVANA HARBOR / FEBRUARY 15TH 1898 / THIS TABLET IS CAST FROM METAL RECOVERED FROM THE U.S.S. MAINE
City of Wilmington
Circa 1925
34.237250 , -77.945900
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Steelman, Bennett L. and Tetterton, Beverly, 2006, 2021. “Community Theater,” NCpedia.org, (accessed November 17, 2023) Link
“Historic City Hall, Wilmington, N.C.” Digital Commonwealth, www.digitalcommonwealth.org, (accessed December 12, 2023) Link
“U.S.S. Maine Memorial,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed November 17, 2023) Link
“USS Maine Memorial Plaque,” Naval History and Heritage Command, March 16, 2021, www.history.navy.mil, (accessed November 17, 2023) Link
“Wilmington City Hall - Thalian Hall, 102 North Third Street, Wilmington, New Hanover, NC,” Library of Congress, (accessed December 12, 2023) Link
Yes
Brass
The USS Maine was sent to protect U.S. interests during Cuba's revolt against Spain. She exploded in the Havana harbor unexpectedly and without explanation in February 1898. Inflammatory articles blamed Spain and "Remember the Maine" became a rallying cry during the Spanish-American War. The ship remained submerged, one of its mast still visible above the water until 1911 when Congress authorized raising of the Maine to investigate the cause of the explosion, recover remains and clear the wreckage from the harbor. Metal salvaged from the ship was used to create memorial plaques like this one which was commissioned by the Bureau of Engraving. Metal from the ship was also used to create some of the tablets in the Boone Trail Highway series.
The plaque is located to the right of the stairway leading into the Wilmington City Hall-Thalian Hall located at 102 North Third Street. The Beginning of Wilmington plaque is to the left of the stairway.
The City Hall faces the North Third Street. Mature shady trees stand on both sides of the City Hall staircase.
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