Remember the Maine Folk Art Mourning Whirligig

Circa 1898: When the USS Maine exploded in Cuba's Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898, 257 of its sailors were killed, and, though the cause of the battleship's demise are still up for debate, our nation blamed Spain for the tragedy. This incident served as a catalyst for the short-lived Spanish-American War. A wave of patriotic nationalism spread across America, and "Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!" became the American public's rallying cry. This Remember the Maine whirligig has an overall height of 16" includng the modern stand, a 13" length, and a 4" depth, and it retains its original blue and black paint scheme, which symbolizes a nation in mourning for the loss of the navy's brave sailors. The whirligig features a sailor atop a "deck" that includes both a propeller and a rudder, a stripped down abstract representation of the ill-fated ship itself. Note, too, the graphic stars on the sailor's paddle, a lovely patriotic touch. This whirligig is in excellent condition with a little loss to the back of the sailor's cap as photographed and honest minimal wear to the paint commensurate with age and use.