Northwest Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Rough Rider Encampment
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, April 17, 2019
1. Rough Rider Encampment Marker Side 1 (corrected)
Marker is the same as below, except for the corrected date.
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, this area was the campsite of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry Regiment commanded by Colonel Leonard Wood (Medal of Honor recipient) and later Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt.
Known as the "Rough Riders," the more than 1000 officers and troopers were a diverse assortment of cowboys, ranchers, miners, lawmen, trappers, professional sportsmen, and socialites from 42 U.S. states, 4 U.S. territories and 13 foreign countries.
Over 600 Rough Riders departed for Cuba via Port Tampa on June 14, 1898 to fight as dismounted cavalry, leaving the rest of the regiment in Tampa for the duration of the war due to the critical shortage of ships to transport the invading force.
The Rough Riders sustained the highest casualty rate of any American unit in that war and became a living legend in their own time. Roosevelt belatedly was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery on the field of battle.
Erected 2016 by 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (Rough Riders) Inc. of Tampa.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Spanish-American. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 24, 1898.
Location. 27° 57.032′ N, 82° 29.113′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. It is in Northwest Tampa. It is at the intersection of North Armenia Avenue and West Lemon Street, on the right
this page online
Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Tampa Bay. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Benjamin Field/George N. Benjamin b 1859 d 1926 (approx. 0.2 miles away); West Tampa Free Public Library (approx. half a mile away); The Beginning of the Cigar Industry in West Tampa (approx. half a mile away); Cespedes Hall (approx. half a mile away); The West Tampa Boys Club (approx. 0.6 miles away); Academy of The Holy Names (approx. 0.7 miles away); Hugh C. Macfarlane (approx. 0.7 miles away); Centro Espaρol de West Tampa (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Rough Riders Encampment (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).
Also see . . . Rough Riders. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on September 22, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 19, 2017
2. Rough Rider Encampment Marker-Side 1
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 19, 2017
3. Rough Rider Encampment Marker-Side 2
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 19, 2017
4. Rough Rider Encampment Marker Map Close-up
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 19, 2017
5. Rough Rider Encampment Marker at park
Photographed by Unknown, 1898
6. "Colonel Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the top of the hill which they captured"
(Harper's Weekly - Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.)
Photographed by Larry Gertner
7. The original Rough Rider Encampment plaque at this location
HMDb entry
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,328 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on April 19, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. Photos: 1. submitted on April 19, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 24, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 6. submitted on September 22, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 7. submitted on April 25, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
