Can you hear the echoes of naval guns? This Battle of Manila Bay Memorial Cannon stands as a silent sentinel. It commemorates a pivotal moment in American history.
Let’s step back in time. The late 19th century saw the United States emerging as a global power. The Spanish-American War became a key chapter in this rise. The Battle of Manila Bay was a decisive engagement.
The Battle of Manila Bay Memorial Cannon serves as a tangible link to that battle. These guns aren’t just metal. They represent the people who served in foreign wars.
These are Battery Dewey. They are two 6-inch 30-caliber guns. They were once aboard the USS Concord. The USS Concord sailed into Manila Bay under Adm. George Dewey. This battle proved decisive in the U.S. war against Spain. The war lasted only months. It marked the United States’ emergence as a military superpower overseas. The nation gained dominion over Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
After the gunboat was retired in 1909 and broken down in Bremerton, the Navy loaned the guns to United Spanish War Veterans of Seattle. They were placed in the War Garden. The garden tucked into Woodland Park was dedicated in 1914 to the memory of veterans.
This Battle of Manila Bay Memorial Cannon once stood in Seattle’s Woodland Park. However, citing safety concerns about lead paint, the city relocated them. The guns were moved to the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis.
Tim Humes is a Vietnam War veteran. He spent years working on behalf of the city. He ensured veterans knew they were not forgotten. Humes remembers climbing on Battery Dewey as a child. He felt the city callously got rid of these guns. He felt like Seattle was sanitizing its long history with the U.S. Navy.
Despite the relocation, the Battle of Manila Bay Memorial Cannon remains a powerful symbol. It reminds us of the sacrifices made by those who served. It connects us to a time when the United States stepped onto the world stage. The cannon tells a story of naval power. It tells a story of a nation’s ambition.
Consider the six-inch projectile fired at the Spanish in Manila Bay. The battle took place in May or August 1898. The shot came from a ship under Commodore and Admiral George Dewey. One such shell is held at the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Captain William Gadsby retrieved the shell from a stone wall fortification after the battle.
Two ships, USS Boston and USS Concord, carried six-inch guns. They fired in response to shots from Spanish fortifications along the City of Manila esplanade. They also fired from Fort San Antonio Abad and Fort San Augustin. Raleigh and Baltimore also had six-inch guns engaged at Sangley Point and Cañacao. All the Spanish shore targets had stone walls.
Today, remember the Battle of Manila Bay Memorial Cannon. Remember its journey. Remember the stories it holds. It is more than just a relic of war. It’s a testament to history. It’s a reminder of the past. It’s a tribute to those who served.