On July 12, 1898, Tampa, Florida, was a central hub for U.S. troops preparing for the Spanish-American War in Cuba. Its port and strategic position enabled the coordination and shipment of thousands of soldiers and supplies. Among the units stationed there were Theodore Roosevelt and his 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, the Rough Riders, who arrived in Tampa in late May 1898 and departed for combat in Cuba on June 13, 1898.
Tampa’s role as a logistical base persisted into July, supporting ongoing operations. The city’s railroads and docks, with camps in areas like Tampa Heights and Port Tampa, managed over 30,000 troops and equipment. Two years after the war’s conclusion in 1898, Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States in 1901.
