"The Maine" Quilt

American women made quilts for all sorts of reasons.  Expressing their political and social sentiments was one.  Here's a fantastic and very rare historic example.  

Each of the 16 ships has the words "the Maine" hand embroidered on its hull.  We have no doubt where this quilt maker stood on an historic event in American history.

“Remember The Maine” was a slogan and rallying cry of the Spanish American War  (1898).   In April, 1898, the U.S. declared war on Spain following mysterious explosions that sank the USS Battleship Maine in Havana Harbor, Cuba.

While it has since been shown that the explosions were accidental and internal, the American public was lead to blame the tragedy on Spain, who owned Cuba at that time.  By the end of that brief War, Spain had lost, and American had gained, Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippines Islands and other islands.

 Although there is some light surface wear to the solid brown (see photos),this unique piece of American folk art displays beautifully.