7. Fort Totten Features some of the Oldest Graffiti in New York City
As mentioned in a previous secret, the tunnel that leads to the Water Battery is covered in graffiti, much of it etched into the wall more than 100 years ago. Among the names and dates scratched into the wall, a large painted yellow proclamation urges passersby to “Remember the Maine.” The USS Maine was an American navy ship that was sunk off the coast in Havana Harbor in 1898, and the graffiti likely dates to around that time.
The sinking of the Maine contributed to the start of the Spanish American War and inspired the rallying cry
“Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!” The Spanish American War lasted five months. You can find a memorial the USS Maine at the Columbus Circle entrance to Central Park.
