Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
United Spanish War Veterans
Tampa's 203 mm Spanish American War Gun
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2009
1. Tampa's 8 inch (203 mm) Spanish American War Gun Marker, east face
This spot was headquarters
for Roosevelt Rough Riders.
Wheeler Cavalry and the
First Florida Troops 1898
( Northeast face )
This war brought the blue
of the cold bleak north and
the gray of the sunny south
into one great brotherhood and
liberty to an oppressed people
( East face )
Remember the Maine
( Southeast face )
[ Portrait ]
Admiral George Dewey
Victor of the Battle of Manilla Bay May 1 1898
( South face )
Erected here in 1927 by
Gen. Joe Wheeler Camp No.2
Dept of Florida, U.S.W.V.
( Southwest face )
Presented to Tampa as a
Memorial to those who
served in the war with Spain
(West face )
This gun erected at
Fort Dade for the
defense of Tampa in 1898
(Northwest face )
Committee
Chairman, Adjutant W.E. Clum
Past Dept. Com. W.A. Joughin
Camp. Com. James R. Brown
Past Com's Ed. Kane- J.W. Sullivan
Honory Member. D.B. McKay
Erected 1927 by Gen. Joe Wheeler Camp No.2 Dept of Florida, U.S.W.V.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Spanish-American
this page online
Location. 27° 56.728′ N, 82° 27.876′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker is on West Kennedy Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. University of Tampa Campus, in Plant Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tampa FL 33606, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. De Soto (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Tampa Bay Hotel (about 400 feet away); Tampa Bay Hotel, 1891 (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Tampa Bay Hotel (about 600 feet away); Babe's Longest Homer (about 600 feet away); Fort Brooke Battery (about 700 feet away); The Spanish Fort (about 700 feet away); Old Schoolhouse (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.
Regarding United Spanish War Veterans. historic cannon, this one being an impressive turn-of-the-century coast defense gun. It memorializes the 1898 Spanish American War, and symbolically points south towards Cuba. The inscription on the cannon's monumental base describes it as an eight-inch (203 mm) gun on a "disappearing carriage" taken from Fort Dade, an old coast defense fort on Egmont Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The true story is however a bit more complicated.
The original Fort Dade gun described on the base
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 6, 2009
2. Tampa's 203 mm Spanish American War Gun Marker, north face
Rough Riders Headquarters at this site
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 6, 2009
3. Tampa's 203 mm Spanish American War Gun Marker, northeast face
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 6, 2009
4. Remember the Maine, east face
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 6, 2009
5. Dewey Tribute, southeast face
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 6, 2009
6. Tampa's 203 mm Spanish American War Gun Marker south face
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 6, 2009
7. Tampa's 203 mm Spanish American War Gun Marker southwest face
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 6, 2009
8. Tampa's 203 mm Spanish American War Gun Marker west face
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 6, 2009
9. Committee , northwaest face
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2009
10. additional Marker, south view
Dedicated to Thomas H. Derrick
Department Commander of Florida United Spanish War Veterans 1934-1935 by Department Auxiliary, U.S.W.V. June 9, 1935
Department Commander of Florida United Spanish War Veterans 1934-1935 by Department Auxiliary, U.S.W.V. June 9, 1935
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 6, 2009
11. Tampa's 203 mm Spanish American War Gun Marker - Filling Instructions
(As seen in photo 1 along the breech)
Elevate gun 42°
Remove vent plug and open filling and by-pass valves. Fill to overflow at vent. Replace vent plug and close filling valve. By-pass valve must finally be adjusted to suit projectile. Capacity 13 gallons
Elevate gun 42°
Remove vent plug and open filling and by-pass valves. Fill to overflow at vent. Replace vent plug and close filling valve. By-pass valve must finally be adjusted to suit projectile. Capacity 13 gallons
Photographed By Mike Stroud, June 6, 2009
12. Tampa's 203 mm Spanish American War Gun Marker, South side
Symbolically points south towards Cuba, as seen from W. Kennedy Blvd.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,061 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on June 15, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
