Miami and the Spanish American War – Part 2 of 3

Part two of a three-part series on Camp Miami during the Spanish American War in 1898. Camp Miami was a training center established in the two-year old city of Miami in the summer of 1898.

Soldiers marching on Royal Palm Park in 1898

As noted in part one of this series, Miami finally secured a military training camp in June of 1898 as fighting continued in Cuba between the United States and Spain over the issue of Cuban independence. The work of the Flagler organization to convert a sandy pine forest into a military camp continued throughout the month. Laborers focused primarily on the eastern portion of the camp.

In its western sector, workers continued clearing the land, digging wells, laying water pipes and completing sewage which flowed into Biscayne Bay. Eventually, long rows of squat white tents spread across the campsite.  The Flagler organization spent approximately $10,000 preparing Camp Miami for its occupants.