Camp George Gordon Meade
Lower Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Covering three square miles, the former Camp Meade was situated a half mile to the northwest. Named for famed Civil War General, it was opened during the Spanish American War and visited by William McKinley on August 27, 1898.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Sprawling across three square miles just northwest of here, Camp Meade was a sizable military encampment opened during the Spanish-American War of 1898 and named in honor of the Civil War general who commanded Union forces at Gettysburg. Its importance was underscored when President William McKinley visited the camp on August 27, 1898.
Why it matters
It marks the rapid mobilization that turned the United States into an overseas power in 1898, a pivotal moment when the nation stepped onto the world stage.
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Related people
- · Gen. George G. Meade
- · President William McKinley
Related events
- · Spanish-American War
Themes & tags
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