PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH

America’s Tenth National Military Park

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Tribute to Military & Civilian Volunteers / 1898

Montauk Point, New York

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22,500 Soldiers arrived on 40+ Transports directly from Cuba, following a victorious ground campaign against Spanish forces at Santiago de Cuba and in preparation for the fall campaign against Havana. 

+ 7,000 Solders arrived on the Long Island Railroad from southern posts.

Half of the 29,500 soldiers suffered from malaria, yellow fever, typhoid
dysentery and malnutrition (Army Beef Scandal, 1898)

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An ‘overlay park’ that includes Fort Pond Bay, adding signage, monuments & dedicated benches to town, county & state parklands that were part of the original 4,000-acre quarantine encampment. A landscaped Memorial Walkway between Fort Pond Bay and Montauk Station, with Information Kiosk. Reconstruction of the Iron Pier on Fort Pond Bay also proposed.

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This proposal has the support of West Point:

 “Camp Wikoff played an important role in the American war with Spain in 1898. In many ways the Camp reflected the spirit of the times, especially with regard to volunteerism and the Progressive impulse of the late – 19th and early 20th centuries. Through its gates passed thousands of heroic Americans — military and civilian, famous and ordinary — whose commitment and sacrifice brought victory in the war. For these reasons and the many others you outlined in the proposal, we support your cause and encourage you to continue pursuing the project.

Best wishes for success in establishing Camp Wikoff as a national military park.”

Patrick Finnegan
Brigadier General, US Army 
Dean of the Academic Board           
United States Military Academy / West Point

March 4, 2008

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This proposal also has the support of the following organizations: 

Buckey O’Neill Camp No. 175 – AZ / Sons of Spanish-American War Veterans
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Lester F. Quinn Memorial Association
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Sons of Spanish-American War Veterans / National Organization 

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Proposed Component Parks & Annual Activities

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Fort Pond Bay from location of the Iron Pier.

April

Navy Vessel anchors in Fort Pond Bay, offering tours.

Last weekend in April

Camp Wikoff Lectures

Ocean Beach Walk, CW Historic Bike Tour

Vernal Half-Marathon: Fort Pond Bay loop at Montauk Lighthouse

Montauk Seafood Chowder served to those who finish race at Fort Pond Bay Beach.

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Month of May

Spanish-American War Lectures west of Montauk

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Third Weekend in October

Re-Enactments / Third House, Montauk

— President McKinley’s Address to the Troops

— Colonel Roosevelt’s BULLY Pulpit Sermon and Farewell Address to the Rough Riders

Re-Enactments Off Site

— Col. Roosevelt’s ‘Crowded Hour’ Speech / Oyster Bay

— Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Theodore Roosevelt Campaign Speech / TBD

Re-Enactors

President McKinley, General Joseph Wheeler, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Lieut. Black Jack Pershing, American Red Cross Nurse Laurie Wheeler, Ellen Walworth / National Women’s War Relief Association, Howard Townsend, American Red Cross Agent, Helen Gould Philanthropist

Activities 

Wagon Rides to Montauk Point Lighthouse

Horseback Riding

Guided Bike Tour

Horseshoes (quoits) Competition

Demonstrations

Wigwagging

Telegraphy

Exhibit

Archival Photos & Newspaper Illustrations / 1898

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Army Band plays Popular Songs of 1890’s.

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Autumnal Half-Marathon: Fort Pond Bay loop at Montauk Lighthouse

Roosevelt Beef Stew served to those who finish at Fort Pond Bay Beach.

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Third Sunday in November

On the Beach at Fort Pond Bay

HOMECOMING

Tribute to Military & Civilian Volunteers

Address: Lessons of Camp Wikoff

Reading of the names of those who died at Camp Wikoff or at Sea.

And, Names of the organizations that provided services to the fever-stricken soldiers.

Soloist sings: HOME! SWEET HOME!

Bugler Plays Taps

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Camp Wikoff National Military Park

Proposed by Jeff Heatley, Author of BULLY! Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, The Rough Riders & Camp Wikoff, New York — 1898. Second Edition Published 2023 by Montauk Historical Society & East End Press, with a Grant from the Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation.

Available on Amazon.

With appreciation for review & advice of Brian Tadler, The Friends of Sagamore Hill. 

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