Photo Exhibits
Photo exhibits spotlight various topics in Florida history, and are accompanied by brief text intended to place selected materials in historical context.
Spanish-American War
In 1898 national attention focused on Florida as the Spanish-American War began. The port city of Tampa served as the primary staging area for U.S. 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.
Florida, the closest state to the Caribbean and home to a large Cuban immigrant population, became the setting for much of the action in Cuba's fight for independence from Spain.
Rough Riders: Tampa, Florida (1898)
Image Number: PR10245
Group portrait of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and other high ranking officials of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment: Tampa, Florida (1898)
Image Number: PR10255
Rough Riders filling belts with cartridges (1898)
Image Number: PR10240
Sultry day in camp: Tampa, Florida (1898)
Image Number: N041294
Mascot of the "Rough Riders" (1898)
Image Number: PR10228
Skirmish line entrenchment (1898)
Image Number: PR10237
Company D Florida volunteers at dinner (1898)
Image Number: PR10231
Clara Barton and Red Cross colleagues having a picnic: Tampa, Florida (1898)
Image Number: RC13693
They are picnicking in Spring 1898 awaiting permission to take relief supplies to Cuba.
Fever wards at the division hospital: Jacksonville, Florida (1898)
Image Number: N041310
Company E of the 9th Infantry reading newspapers during the Spanish-American war (1898)
Image Number: RC06658
9th Infantry breaking camp to embark for the Spanish-American war (1898)
Image Number: RC20111
9th United States Calvary training horses for Spanish-American war (ca. 1898)
Image Number: RC20112
Soldiers of the 2nd Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers at train depot: Cocoa, Florida (1898)
Image Number: RC06028
Photographed in June 1898.
Loading camp supplies at Tampa (1898)
Image Number: PR10241