Happy Hour with the Historian | Remember the Maine: Explosion, Mystery, and the Road to War

The Key West Art & Historical Society is excited to offer a series of fun historical lectures entitled ‘Happy Hour with the Historian’. Historian: Cori Convertito Ph.D. Topic: Remember the Maine | Explosion, Mystery, and the Road to War In 1898, the powerful U.S. battleship USS Maine was a familiar presence in Key West, patrolling regional waters during a time of growing tension in the Caribbean. When she was sent to Havana in January, it was meant as a show of strength and protection for American interests. Just three weeks later, on the night of February 15, a massive explosion tore through the ship, killing more than 260 sailors and shocking the nation. Was it an accident—or an attack? The destruction of the Maine became one of the most controversial and consequential events in American history, helping ignite the Spanish-American War just months later. Yet more than a century on, the true cause of the explosion remains unresolved. Join us for a fascinating evening as we explore the USS Maine’s deep connections to Key West, unravel the competing theories behind her destruction, and examine how one mysterious event helped propel the United States onto the world stage.