San Juan Hill

US Army photo taken near the base of Kettle Hill circa July 4, 1898. The soldier is pointing up to the top of Kettle Hill. In the background you can see the block houses on San Juan Hill and the American encampment.

San Juan Hill is a series of hills to the east of Santiago, Cuba running north to south and known as the San Juan Heights or in Spanish "Alturas de San Juan" before Spanish-American War of 1898. 20.020018°N 75.798212°W / 20.020018; -75.798212 Now part of an area called "Lomas de San Juan."

Overview

These were the heights where Spanish soldiers entrenched themselves in the most famous battle of the Spanish-American War; the Battle of San Juan Hill. The Americans named the lesser heights, "Kettle Hill" and the higher southern hill, "San Juan Hill" after the battle July 2, 1898. The two high points or hills are connected by a draw or saddle on a north-south axis.

The fight for the San Juan heights or hills became known as the battle of "San Juan Hill" due to a reporter's telegraph typo dropping the "s." American Army reports also referred to the heights as hills.

See also

• El Caney