Santiago Surrender Tree
The site of the Santiago Surrender Tree, located in Santiago, Cuba, marks where Spanish forces surrendered to U.S. forces on July 17, 1898, at the end of the Spanish–American War.Background
The ceiba tree had been the site of previous prisoner exchanges. On July 1, 1898, U.S. and Cuban troops had taken Fort El Viso, El Caney and San Juan Hill. These victories led to the U.S. victory at Santiago de Cuba.Per United States law, the site is to be maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission since 1958. The tree is now gone, but cannon and plaques continue to mark the surrender site.
