In 1898, national attention focused on Florida as the Spanish-American War began.
Florida was only 90 miles from the island of Cuba and was home to a large Cuban immigrant population. Cuban-Americans in Florida raised money and awareness in support of the war, and United States troops gathered in port cities around Florida.
The port city of Tampa served as the primary staging area for the United States troops bound for the war in Cuba.
The arrival of over 30,000 troops, including Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders cavalry unit, changed Tampa from a small town into a city. Memorial Team Leader: Hal Youmans Memorial Team Members: John Werner
Provided by Florida Memory State Library & Archives of Florida.
