U.S. Troops Landing at Daiquiri, Cuba (1898) | Old Colorized Movie

This colorized footage captures a pivotal moment in the Spanish-American War: the first landing of U.S. troops on Cuban soil, on June 22, 1898, at Daiquirí, Cuba. The film offers a sweeping view of the long pier at Daiquirí, chosen for its strategic location as the landing point for General William R. Shafter's expeditionary force. The backdrop features coal dumps and ore elevators, remnants of the mining operations at Juragua, about five miles away.

U.S. soldiers disembark from lifeboats onto the wooden pier, carrying their blanket rolls, haversacks, and rifles. Earlier arrivals can be seen walking along the dock toward the camera, adding to the sense of movement and urgency. In the distance, a transport ship and other vessels of the fleet are anchored, silhouetted against the horizon. The film highlights both the logistical challenges and the significance of the landing, which, though disordered, was fortunately unopposed by Spanish forces.

The footage, originally captured by William Daly Paley, offers a vivid look at the early stages of the U.S. military's involvement in Cuba, documenting the beginning of a historic military campaign.

Produced by: Thomas A. Edison, Inc.
Camera: William Daly Paley
Collections:

Theodore Roosevelt Association Film Collection (Library of Congress)
Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)