BATTLESHIP USS MAINE RECOVERED VALVE HANDLE ARTIFACT - SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

Description

Valve handle from the Battleship USS Maine. A very rare and unusual artifact recovered from the wreckage of the U.S.S. Battleship Maine. It is displayed in a period correct box mostly likely constructed after valve recovered in 1911.The Maine was a United States Navy battleship that sank in the Havana Harbor on February 15th, 1898. The ship exploded and sank on that evening killing 268 sailors...or three quarters of her crew. There are still today many debates and theories of exactly how the explosion occurred. The sinking of this Battleship contributed to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in April of that year. The ship lay at the bottom of the Harbor until 1911, when a cofferdam was built around it. The hull was patched up until the ship was afloat, then towed to sea and sunk. I believe it was during this time that limited items were salvaged from the Battleship. The Maine now lies on the sea-bed 3,600 feet below the surface. Today there are a few large artifcts displayed in view on public and government grounds. There are few privately owned actual artifact pieces know. Here is an opportunity to own a truly rare historic piece of American Military/Naval History. Please ask any questions you may have.